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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/1-4926/12-87204. Accessed 15 Feb. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 118 specimens of this Species.
13240 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Jasper National Park, Cottonwood Creek
Date Collected1939-06-12
38872 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Crimson Lake Provincial Park, Crimson Lake
Date Collected1968-06-08
44771 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Iosegun River
Date Collected1973-07-12
28278 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Mildred Lake
Date Collected1969-06-11
22007 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Long Lake Provincial Park
Date Collected1967-07-25
26292 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Miquelon Lakes
Date Collected1968-06-03
27908 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort McMurray
Date Collected1968-06-21
26441 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Primrose Lake
Date Collected1968-07-17
90625 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Wagner Natural Area
Date Collected1973-06-28
13235 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Caribou Mountains
Date Collected1930-06-27
13237 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Spirit River
Date Collected1948-07-27
13238 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Watino
Date Collected1947-08-01
74175 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Red Earth Creek
Date Collected1977-07-29
13242 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1945-08-09
13233 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Marion Lake
Date Collected1928-08-18
90333 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Lousana
Date Collected1977-06
13241 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1937-05-29
80099 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Laurier Lake
Date Collected1973-06-12
21975 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cold Lake, French Bay
Date Collected1967-06-20
21985 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Pinehurst Lake
Date Collected1967-06-22
21988 - Aralia nudicaulis L.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Namewild sarsaparilla
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Goodwin Lake
Date Collected1967-06-23