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Species Details
Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesBasal, pinnately compound; petiolules 9-30 cm long, 10-40 cm wide; leaflets 3-7, egg-shaped or elliptic-lance-shaped, pointed tips, bases unequal, 3-20 cm long, 2.5-14 cm wide, margins finely serrate, colour changes from copper-green to a dull green; junction between petiole and petiolules slightly hairy
FlowersInflorescence an umbel, 8-50 flowers; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, less than 0.5 mm long; petals 5, distinct, 3 mm long, 3 mm wide, white, reflexed; stamens 5, filaments white, anthers white; pistils 1, ovary inferior
Fruits and SeedsDrupe, green maturing to dark purple, star-shaped in cross section, 6-8 mm long, 4-8 mm wide; seeds brown, oval, flattened, 5-6.7 mm long, 2.7-3mm wide
Scientific Name
Aralia nudicaulis L.
Common Name
wild sarsaparilla
General Description
Perennial herb, stem leafless, 15-60 cm, two stem-like projections arising from a short, thick caudex packaged within a rhizome
Leaves
Basal, pinnately compound; petiolules 9-30 cm long, 10-40 cm wide; leaflets 3-7, egg-shaped or elliptic-lance-shaped, pointed tips, bases unequal, 3-20 cm long, 2.5-14 cm wide, margins finely serrate, colour changes from…
Basal, pinnately compound; petiolules 9-30 cm long, 10-40 cm wide; leaflets 3-7, egg-shaped or elliptic-lance-shaped, pointed tips, bases unequal, 3-20 cm long, 2.5-14 cm wide, margins finely serrate, colour changes from copper-green to a dull green; junction between petiole and petiolules slightly hairy
Flowers
Inflorescence an umbel, 8-50 flowers; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, less than 0.5 mm long; petals 5, distinct, 3 mm long, 3 mm wide, white, reflexed; stamens 5, filaments white, anthers white; pistils 1,…
Inflorescence an umbel, 8-50 flowers; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, less than 0.5 mm long; petals 5, distinct, 3 mm long, 3 mm wide, white, reflexed; stamens 5, filaments white, anthers white; pistils 1, ovary inferior
Fruits and Seeds
Drupe, green maturing to dark purple, star-shaped in cross section, 6-8 mm long, 4-8 mm wide; seeds brown, oval, flattened, 5-6.7 mm long, 2.7-3mm wide
Phenology
Flowers from May to July
Notes
Similar species:
A. hispida
A. hispida (bristly sarsaparilla) is distinguishable from A. nudicaulis by it’s leafy, bristly stems (Johnson et al. 1995).
Medical uses:
Natives harvested the rhizomes in the fall to…
Similar species:
A. hispida
A. hispida (bristly sarsaparilla) is distinguishable from A. nudicaulis by it’s leafy, bristly stems (Johnson et al. 1995).
Medical uses:
Natives harvested the rhizomes in the fall to make teas that were used to treat stomach, heart and liver pains as well as pneumonia, syphilis, infected gums and low milk production in nursing mothers. These teas were also thought of as blood purifiers and sweat stimulants. Poultices were made from the rhizome to help heal various skin problems such as burns, sores and boils. Nose bleeds, ear aches and rheumatism ewre also treated with poultices. Current scientific research has found that rhizome extracts have selective anticancer properties.
Ethno-botanical uses:
The berries are considered inedible when raw, however they have been used to flavor beer and to make wine. A jelly can be made from the berries, but it is not recommended. Reports indicate that most people become sick after consuming the jelly. The young shoots have been used in cooking as a potherb. The rhizome has also been used to make mead and root beer.
Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) roots were boiled with Aralia nudicaulis rhizomes to create a concoction in which fishing nets were soaked. This practice was believed to increase the amount of fish caught by the net.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: Widspread in the Aspen Parkland and Boreal Forest of central and northern Alberta
CAN (BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT); USA (CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC,…
Alberta: Widspread in the Aspen Parkland and Boreal Forest of central and northern Alberta
CAN (BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT); USA (CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY); FRA (SPM)
Citation
Page Citation for Aralia nudicaulis L.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Aralia nudicaulis L., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-4926/12-87141. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 118 specimens of this Species.
13244 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Pipestone Lake
Date Collected1948-07-03
23021 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson
Date Collected1955-08-01
22933 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Lac La Ronge
Date Collected1954-07-20
78708 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson
Date Collected1973-08-17
62603 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Gray Creek
Date Collected1947-05-15
62602 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake
Date Collected1942-06-21
26920 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Ontario, Lake Huron, Manitoulin Island, South Bay
Date Collected1959-06-06
116924 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sutherland
Date Collected1966-06-06
119914 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Weldwood Forest Management Area
Date Collected1965-06-18
121423 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2009-06-08
121424 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2009-06-09
122595 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Dillberry Lake
Date Collected1957-06-18
124920 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary
Date Collected2010-07-08
125105 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Seba Beach
Date Collected1965-08
125106 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Seba Beach
Date Collected1965-08
125107 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Empress
Date Collected1980-05-27
125108 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Garrington
Date Collected1982-06-18
125109 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve
Date Collected1983-07-14
126955 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Breton
Date Collected2010-06-05
128759 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, British Columbia, Sparwood
Date Collected1979-06-21
134811 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Hoople Lake
Date Collected2013-05-30