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American spikenard

Scientific Name: Aralia racemosa ssp. racemosa

Family: Araliaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)

Also known as Spikenard, Small Spikenard, Indian Root, Spice Berry, Spignet, Life-of-Man, and Petty Morel, American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa) is a striking perennial herb that can add visual interest to shady gardens and woodland settings.

Considerations for Pets

  • American Spikenard is a rhizomatous plant.
  • It produces showy dark purple berries.

Considerations for Children

  • American Spikenard produces showy dark purple berries.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Aralia racemosa L.
  • Common Names: American Spikenard, Spikenard, Small Spikenard, Indian Root, Spice Berry, Spignet, Life-of-Man, Petty Morel
  • Family: Araliaceae (Ginseng Family)
  • Synonyms: Spignet
  • Subspecies: Aralia racemosa ssp. racemosa

Distribution and Habitat

  • American Spikenard is native to North America.
  • It is commonly found in rich woodlands and thickets.
  • In New England, it thrives in moist deciduous forests.

Morphology and Growth Habits

  • It is a rhizomatous, shrubby-looking, soft-stemmed herbaceous perennial.
  • The plant typically matures to a height of 3-5 feet (1-1.5 metres).
  • It features thick, fleshy rootstocks with long, thick roots and branched stems.
  • It has large, compound leaves.
  • American Spikenard produces clusters of 1/8-inch greenish to white flowers.
  • The plant bears showy clusters of purple-red fruits in autumn (showy dark purple berries).
  • It lacks spines.
  • It has numerous flower umbels in large clusters.

Traditional Uses

  • Spikenard root has a mild, pleasant licorice-like flavor and has been used as a substitute.
  • Spikenard root tea is a traditional American folk medicine treatment.
  • Historically, the root was used by herbalists and eclectics as a medicine for lung infections such as coughs, catarrh, and tuberculosis.
  • American Indians gathered its roots for a variety of medicinal uses.

Quirky Facts

  • In the colonies, it was "culgarly called" petty morrel.
  • One individual described the berries as "excellently delicious".
  • Spikenard is also the name of a costly perfume produced from a plant native to the mountains of Northern India, used by the ancients.