Oplopanax horridus

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Araliaceae

Genus

Oplopanax

Life cycle

perennial

Foliage

deciduous

Woodiness

woody

Height

2 m

Spread

2 m

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - peeled and then cooked^{[14][16][2][3]}. Only the very young shoots are used^[7]. The roots can be chewed after peeling^[2][3][6].

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.

Devil's club was widely employed medicinally by several native North American Indian tribes who used it especially for its pain-relieving properties^[13]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism, though it probably merits further investigation. The root bark and stems are analgesic, antirheumatic, antiphlogistic, appetizer, blood purifier, cathartic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, hypoglycaemic, ophthalmic, pectoral and tonic^[7][5]. An infusion is used in the treatment of coughs and colds, bronchitis, tuberculosis, stomach problems etc^[13]. A decoction is drunk in the treatment of rheumatism and is also applied externally as a wash on the affected joints^[13]. A poultice of the bark has been used to relieve pain in various parts of the body^[13]. A poultice of the bark has been applied to a nursing mother's breasts in order to stop an excessive flow of milk^[13]. A decoction has been used as an eye wash in the treatment of cataracts and as a herbal steam bath for treating general body pains^[13]. The burnt stems, mixed with oil, are applied as a salve on swellings^[13]. An extract of the root bark lowers blood sugar levels and an infusion of the bark has been used in the treatment of diabetes^[11]. The infusion also has a tonic effect on the blood and liver^[11]. The inner bark is emetic in large doses and purgative (especially if taken with hot water)^[13]. It is used in the treatment of coughs and colds, stomach and bowel cramps^[13]. A poultice of the inner bark is used in the treatment of wounds, sores etc^[13]. The berries have been rubbed on the scalp to combat lice and dandruff, and to make the hair shiny^[12].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The berries can be mashed into a pulp and then rubbed onto the scalp to get rid of head lice^[13].

Environment

Range

Western N. America.

Habitat

Moist woods, especially by streams^[4][15] and usually in rich soils^[17].

Light

partial sun

Shade tolerance

permanent shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 4+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Tolerances

high wind, maritime exposure

Wind

Yes

Maritime

Yes

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a cool moist soil^[4][10]. Prefers a position in light shade^[8]. Prefers dense shade and is probably best if grown in moist woodland^[1][4]. Tolerates maritime exposure^[10]. (Rather a strange report for a plant that needs to be grown in dense shade[K]). A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c, but the young shoots in spring can be damaged by late frosts^[4][10]. It is therefore best not grown in a frost pocket^[8]. This species was until recently considered to have its range in N. America and Japan, but the Japanese form has now been separated off into its own species as O. japonicus^[10]. A very ornamental plant, but it is densely armed with spikes^[15]. It transplants easily and also tolerates pruning^[10]. The leaves and stems are excessively spiny^[8].

Related plants

• Oplopanax japonicus
• Aralia chinensisChinese Angelica Tree
• Aralia continentalisManchurian Spikenard
• Aralia cordataUdo

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩

2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

   ↩1↩2

3. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

   ↩1↩2

4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4

5. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

   ↩

6. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

   ↩

7. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

   ↩1↩2

8. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

   ↩1↩2↩3

9. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

   ↩

10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

11. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

12. Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1

    ↩

13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

15. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩1↩2

16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

17. Turner. N. J. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-7718-8117-7

    ↩