Aralia nudicaulis
Wild Sarsaparilla
a perennial member of the Aralia genus in the family Araliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Genus
- Aralia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.4 m
- Spread
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The rootstock is used as a flavouring[2], it is a substitute for sarsaparilla[17] and is also used for making 'root beer'[6]. It is also used as an emergency food[5] (usually mixed with oil[15]), having a sweet spicy taste and a pleasant aromatic smell[16]. A nutritious food[8], it was used by the Indians during wars or when they were hunting since it is very sustaining[10]. Young shoots - cooked as a potherb[8]. A refreshing herbal tea is made from the root[6]. Pleasantly flavoured[11][12]. The roots are boiled in water until the water is reddish-brown[14]. A jelly is made from the fruit[8]. The fruit is also used to make wine[15]. The fruit is about 6mm in diameter[7].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Tea
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Wild sarsaparilla is a sweet pungent tonic herb that acts as an alterative. It had a wide range of traditional uses amongst the North American Indians and was at one time widely used as a substitute for the tropical medicinal herb sarsaparilla[11][15]. The root is alterative, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral and stimulant[16][9][10][11]. The herb encourages sweating, is stimulating and detoxifying and so is used internally in the treatment of pulmonary diseases, asthma, rheumatism, stomach aches etc[16][10][12][13][15]. Externally it is used as a poultice in treating rheumatism, sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers and skin problems such as eczema[16][11][13]. The root is collected in late summer and the autumn and dried for later use[16][10]. A drink made from the pulverised roots is used as a cough treatment[10]. A poultice made from the roots and/or the fruit is applied to sores, burns, itchy skin, ulcers, swellings etc[10][11]. A homeopathic remedy made from the roots is important in the treatment of cystitis[12].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Homeopathy
- Product or use
- Pectoral
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Environment
- Range
- N. America - Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to N. Carolina and Missouri.
- Light
- partial sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 4+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 - 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 4 months at 20°c[4]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are 25cm or more tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, late spring or early summer being the best time to do this. Root cuttings 8cm long, December in a cold frame[3][18]. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage[18]. Division of suckers in late winter[3]. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position[1][4]. Requires a sheltered position[1]. Plants are hardier when grown in poorer soils[7]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00