ARA'LIA (derivation uncertain). A genus of plants, the type of the natural order Aralia eau. This order is dicotyledonous, and consists of trees. shrubs, and herbaceous plants, resem tiling the Umbe!Mem both in their general habit and in their botanical characters, but dif fering essentially in the fruit, which is not formed of two separable carpels as in the Um bellifem. The fruit of the Araliacew consists of several one-seeded cells, and is often succulent. The order contains about four hundred known species, natives of tropical, temperate. and cold climates, generally possessing stimulant and aro matic properties. The principal genera are .i ra lie, Pollux, Iledera, and Patsia. Poisonous qualities are not developed as in the Umbelli fer:r. The herbage of many species affords good food for cattle, and some are used for human food. The genus Aralia contains a considerable number of species—trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. It has a succulent fruit, with five or ten cells, crowned with the styles. Aralia audi caulis, commonly called wild sarsaparilla, is a native of the United States. It is a species of low growth, having a solitary radical leaf with a trifid stalk and ovate serrated segments; the scape is shorter than the leaf. The root is said to be equal in value to sarsaparilla as an alterative and tonic. Aralia racemosa, well known as spikenard. has large, spicy, aro matic roots. AraHa spinosa. and A ralia hispida, also natives of North America, produce an aro matic gum-resin. A ra lie spinesa is sometimes called toothache-tree: it also bears the name of angeliea-tree. It is a native of moist woods in Virginia and Carolina, growing to a height of ten or twelve feet, with a single stem, spreading head, doubly and trebly pinnate leaves and ovate leaflets, and is very ornamental in a lawn. .4 ra lie polaris. found in the southern island of New Zealand, and in the greatest abundance and lux urianee in the Auckland Islands, is a herba ceous perennial, four to five feet high, with large orbicular masses of green foliage and waxy flowers, which present a very striking appear ance. Aralia Mulls, now ealh•d ralia cordata,
is employed in China as a sudorific. Its shoots are very delicate and pleasant when boiled; and the roots, which have an agreeable aromatic flavor, are used by the Japanese as carrots or parsnips are by Europeans. AraHas abound in the warm valleys of the Himalaya. The natives collect the leaves of many as fodder for cattle, for which purpose they are of great value in a country where grass for pasture is scarce; but the use of this food gives a peculiar taste to the butter. Chinese riee-paper is cut from cylinders of the pith of .4ralia papyrifera. Ginseng, the root of Panay quinqucfolia, is one of the most important products of the order Araliacete. Large quantities of ginseng are collected and shipped to China, where wonderful medicinal qualities are attributed to it. For flue speci mens almost fabulous priees are paid. AIodern pharmacy does not consider it of great value. The astringent roots of Gunnera sea bra, some times classed with the AraHas, are used in tan ning, and its fleshy leaf-stalks are eaten like those of rhubarb. It has been seen on the sand stone cliffs of Chile with leaves nearly eight feet in diameter, each plant bearing four or five of these enormous leaves. It has been introduced into Great Britain, and is found to succeed well in the climate of Edinburgh. The only repre sentative of this order in the British flora is the ivy (q.v.). helix. Fat•ia horrida, a member of this family, is common along the Pacific coast. extending well into Alaska. It has slender, rope- like stems, crowned with large leaves. Stems and leaves are covered with prickles that sometimes make severe sores upon persons who come in violent contact with them. The popular name for the plant is Devil's Club.