Aralia nudicaulis
 
Wild Sarsaparilla

Lower Half Plant

Moose Mountain Provincial Park
30-May-2010

Note the leaf and peduncle each arise directly from the rhizome.

The inflorescence appears to be a compound umbel, which would make the ultimate flower clusters umbellets.  However, Flora of the Great Plains states the flowers of Aralia are in racemose or paniculate umbels.  Therefore, I am labeling the ultimate clusters as umbels.

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Nudicaulis: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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plants scapose, leaves and peduncle arising from the rootstock; NOT [plants with leafy stems]

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plants glabrous

 

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Aralia: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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herb; NOT [shrub with thorny stems]

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leaves compound; NOT [leaves simple]

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leaf ternate and 3-5 foliolate; NOT [leaves lobed]

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carpels 5; NOT [carpels 2]

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fruit blackish at maturity; NOT [fruit red at maturity]

 

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Umbelliferae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants terrestrial or semiaquatic; NOT [plants aquatic, leaves submerged or floating]

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plants NOT with colored milky juice

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plants with more than one normal leaf

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some or all leaves alternate; NOT [leaves opposite, whorled, or basal]

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leaves without stipules, or having glands; NOT [leaves with stipules]

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flowers in umbels

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parts of flowers mostly in fives; NOT [parts of flowers in twos or fours]

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flowers with two floral rings, and with each petal distinct from the others]

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calyx regular; NOT [calyx irregular, some sepals smaller than others]

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stamens 10 or fewer; NOT [stamens usually more than 10]

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ovary inferior

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styles 5; NOT [styles 2]

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fruit fleshy