Aralia hispida

Perennial to 1.5 m from a stout rhizome, sometimes overwintering 1-5 dm above the ground, sharply bristly near the base; lvs few, on petioles usually shorter than the blade, bipinnate; lfls oblong to ovate or lanceolate, to 10 cm, acute or short-acuminate, sharply serrate; umbels several in a loose, open, terminal infl; styles connate half-length; fr globose, nearly black; 2n=24. Dry woods, especially in sandy or sterile soil; Nf. and Que. to Hudson Bay and Minn., s. to N.J., W.Va., and n. Ind. June, July.

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

©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam

In fine, sandy soil at the bases of wooded dunes and in sandy, burned-over areas. Rare.

Indiana Coefficient of Conservatism: C = 10

Wetland Indicator Status: n/a

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Diagnostic Traits: Herbaceous, stems prickly near base and bearing alternate, bipinnately compound leaves; inflorescences racemose, mostly with 5 to 25 umbels; fruits purple-black drupes.