| Aralia californica | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Genus: | Aralia |
| Species: | A. californica |
| Binomial name | |
| Aralia californica S. Wats. |
|
Aralia californica, known by the common name Elk Clover though not actually a clover, is a large herb in the family Araliaceae, the only member of the Ginseng family native to California and southwestern Oregon.[1] It is also called California Aralia and California Spikenard.
It is a deciduous herbaceous perennial plant growing to a height of 2-3 m on stems which are thick but not woody. The stems bear large green pinnate or bipinnate leaves 1-2 m long and 1 m broad, the leaflets 15-30 cm long and 7-15 cm broad. The greenish white flowers are produced in large compound umbels 30-45 cm diameter at the stem apex; each flower is 2-3 mm diameter, and matures to small (3-5 mm) dark purple or black fruit, each berry containing 3-5 seeds.
It is distributed throughout western and central California and into Oregon. It is more common in cooler, moister areas in northern California, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This plant is sometimes substituted for other species of its genus which are used as herbal remedies, such as American Spikenard and Japanese Spikenard. A preparation of the root has traditionally been used as an anti-inflammatory, douche, and cough suppressant.