THE NATURALIST PAGES:

 

     

THE DEVIL'S WALKING STICK

aka: Hercules' club, Japanese Angelica - Aralia spinosa

     I encountered this tree(shrub) near the entrance to the Niagara Parks' Butterfly conservatory when I grasped its stem while bending down to read its name tag! The tag identified it as "Japanese Angelica". It left a "non-Angelic" impression upon me that persisted for at about an hour!

     The stem of this shrub has many short, strong, fairly fine, and very sharp spines. Fortunately they do not break off when touched.

Landscape use of Aralia spinosa
University of Delaware, Botanical Garden.
©John Frett

      Other places that I have found this shrub:

Edwards Gardens - One on western plateau (obscure location) and two on left side of path leading up from the north bridge to the west plateau.

Milliken Park, Scarborough, Just by deck overlooking the pond (easy to find).

      Here's a photograph I took at James Gardens in Toronto. It was taken mainly to show the leaf structure (doubly compound). Click on the image for a larger picture ("back" to return").

© W. Banner

 

Bookmark here

REFERENCE LINKS FOR DEVIL'S WALKING STICK:

Aralia Spinosa A fact sheet by Dr John Frett, University of Delaware. Click on the various items. The sheet even provides the correct Pronunciation. Visit the garden and check out the extensive collection of other plants of interest.

Stem Picture of stem.

Gallery A very extensive gallery of plant pictures (source of the previous stem picture). If you know the scientific name there's probably a picture here.

 

ONCE SEEN, NEVER FORGOTTEN!

 

Back to top      Back to "Sticks"      Back to "Trees";         Home (whiskey-Jack)

---