Wild Sarsaparilla
Aralia nudicaulis
Family Araliaceae

Characteristics:
* Flowers small, greenish-white, in ball-like cluster.
* Leaves large, compound, with 5 leaflets divided into 3 sections.
* Fruit a purplish-black berry.

Natural History:
* Flowers in June and July.
* Habitat: Open, deciduous woods at low elevations.
* Range: Northern Canada to northeastern United States.
* Native.

Connections!
* Nearly every part of the sarsaparilla plant has been used by humans. The aromatic roots were once used in a drink called sarsaparilla, which has developed into good old root beer. Young plant shoots were used as herbs, and the berries were made into jelly.