Aralia spinosa L.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Araliaceae

• Scientific Name

  Aralia spinosa L.

• Description

  Species Description - Shrub or small tree to 12 m, the stem, branches, and often the petioles and lf-rachis armed with stout prickles; lvs to 1 m, twice or partly thrice compound, the rather firm lfls ovate, 4–10 cm, acute or acuminate, serrate, acute to broadly rounded at base; umbels very numerous in a terminal compound panicle; fr black; 2n=24. Moist or wet woods; Del. to s. Ind. and Mo., s. to Fla. and Tex., and intr. n. to N.Y., s. N. Engl., and Mich. June, July.

• Common Names

  Hercules' club