Aralia nudicaulis L.
wild sarsaparilla
Araliaceae (Ginseng family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Jamie Fenneman     (Photo ID #3617)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Aralia nudicaulis
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a rhizome; stems erect, 30-70 cm tall, woody at base.
Leaves:
Basal leaves compound, of 3 major divisions that each have 3-5 leaflets or segments, 1 per stem, 30-50 cm long; ultimate segments saw-toothed, 5-12 cm long, egg-shaped-oblong.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of 3-7 globose umbels in flat-topped to paniculate clusters; flowers greenish-white.
Fruits:
Dark purple berries, 2-5 seeded, 6-8 mm wide.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
White
Blooming Period:
Late Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Black
Present over the Summer
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Aralia nudicaulis

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
 Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 815 0 2500
Slope Gradient (%)
 19 -2 235

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 202 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		4 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 4407
Modal BEC Zone Class
 ICH

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 BG(8), BWBS(325), CWH(53), ESSF(25), ICH(1830), IDF(448), MS(206), PP(21), SBPS(21), SBS(1270)

Habitat and Range

Moist streamsides, floodplains and forest in the montane zone; frequent throughout C and S BC east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains, infrequent northward, E to NB and NS and S to TN, GA, CO and WA.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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