Manchurian spikenard
Aralia continentalis

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 2 m tall. The leaves are large and compound. They are rich glossy green. The flowers are small and in showy balls. These develop black fruit.

There are about 40-55 Aralia species.

Where it is found

A cool temperate plant. It suits sun of light shade. It is best in rich soil. It grows in forests and grasslands between 800-3,200 m above sea level in north China. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Himalayas, Korea, Russia, Siberia, Tibet

How it is used for food

The sprout is used to season cooked vegetables. The stems are fermented in salt or soy sauce.

Edible parts

Leaves, root, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dokhwal, Dong bei tu dang gui, Trangdureup

Synonyms

Aralia cordata var. continentalis (Kitag.) Y. C. Zhu;