ARALIA, BERRY-BEARING ANGELICA, a genus of the pentagynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants.
Species. Of this genus some authors enumerate five species; but none of them merit description, except one called nudicaulis, having a naked stalk. This grows three or four feet high; the leaves have two large trifoliate lobes, which are sawed on their edges. The flower-stalks arise between these, immediately from the root, and are terminated by round umbels of small four-leaved flowers of a whitish colour. What is remarkable of this species is, that its roots were brought over from North America where it grows, and sold here for faraparilla, and it is still used as such by the inhabitants of Canada; though it is very different from the true sort. All the species of this plant are hardy, except one called the spinosa, which requires an hot-bed; but is destitute of the little beauty possessed by the others, so is very seldom cultivated except in botanic gardens for variety.