Aralia nudicaulis

Wild Sarsaparilla

Duck Mountain Provincial Park
22-June-2002

Note:  Budd's Flora keys family Araliaceae has having "some or all leaves alternate", and not having "leaves opposite, whorled, or basal".  It also keys Araliaceae as having more than one leaf.  Aralia nudicaulis, in fact, has one basal leaf.

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Nudicaulis Characteristics
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plants scapose

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leaf and peduncle each arising directly from the rhizome

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plants glabrous

 
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Aralia Characteristics
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herb

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leaves compound

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5 carpels

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fruit blackish at maturity

 
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Araliaceae Characteristics
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plants not with coloured milky juice

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leaves without stipules

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flowers in umbels

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both sepals and petals present, but sepals very small

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petals distinct, not united to form a tube

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calyx regular

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flower parts mostly in fives

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5 stamens alternating with the petals

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5 styles

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ovary inferior

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flowers epigynous

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ovules and seeds1 in each locule

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fleshy berry-like fruit