University of Alberta Museums Search

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

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

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.

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)