2. Aralia racemosa L. (American spikenard)
Pl. 218 a; Map
908
Plants perennial
herbs, sometimes slightly woody at the base. Aerial stems 60–240 cm long, erect
to spreading, often branched, without spines. Leaves 2 or more along each
aerial stem, alternate. Leaf blades 30–80 cm long, the 3 primary divisions each
pinnately divided into 9–21 leaflets, the leaflets 2–18 cm long, ovate, the
margins doubly toothed, green, hairy along the veins when young, sometimes
becoming glabrous or nearly so at maturity. Inflorescences at the tip of the aerial
stem and sometimes also axillary, panicles or less commonly racemes of often
numerous umbels, the branches hairy. Petals 0.8–1.0 mm long, white. Fruits 5–6
mm long, reddish purple to blackish purple. 2n=24. June–August.
Scattered nearly
throughout the state but absent from the Unglaciated Plains Division and the
southwestern portion of the Glaciated Plains, also absent from most of the
Mississippi Lowlands (eastern and southwestern U.S. and adjacent Mexico;
Canada). Mesic upland forests, often toward the base of north-facing slopes,
moist ledges of bluffs, often along streams.
The aromatic,
spicy rootstocks of A. racemosa have been used medicinally for
respiratory ailments, rheumatic fever, syphilis, and skin problems (apparently
without any medical basis) and are an ingredient in root beer. Use by Native
Americans was similar to that of A. nudicaulis (Arnason et al., 1981).
The foliage and inflorescences of the species are attractive, but the plants
sometimes are considered too large and bushy for most garden situations.