Aralia spinosa
Hercule's Club
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Aralia genus in the family Araliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Araliaceae
- Genus
- Aralia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 9 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Handling the roots can cause dermatitis in some people[10]. Large amounts of the berries are poisonous[10].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - cooked[2][6]. The leaves usually have a number of slender prickles, they must be gathered before the prickles harden[5] and are then chopped finely and used as a potherb[8].
- Plant part
- Leaves
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.
Analgesic[16][17]. The bark, especially of the roots[19] is the part most commonly used medicinally, though other parts of the plant, including the fruit[19], also possess medicinal properties[14]. The fresh bark is strongly emetic, ophthalmic, purgative and sialagogue[14][16][17][10][13], when dried it is a stimulating alterative and is diaphoretic[19]. A tincture of the berries is used in the treatment of toothache and rheumatism[14][10][13]. A poultice of the roots is applied to boils, skin eruptions, varicose veins, old sores and swellings[10][13]. A cold infusion of the roots is used as drops for sore eyes[13].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Analgesic
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Sialagogue
- Product or use
- Stimulant
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Wood - close-grained, weak, light, soft, brittle[19][11]. Of little economic value[12].
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Secondary canopy
Environment
- Range
- South-eastern N. America - New York to Florida, east to Texas.
- Habitat
- Buffs, rich woods and river banks in deep moist soils[15].
- Light
- partial sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- 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]. Requires a sheltered position[1]. A fast-growing but short-lived tree in its native zone[12], this species is of little value in Britain[1]. It is generally a single-stemmed plant, often spreading freely by means of suckers[7][12]. Plants make finer foliage when growing in rich soils but are generally healthier and longer-lived in a comparatively poor soil[3]. 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
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
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
McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
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
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206
Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622
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
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X