Aralia chinensis

Chinese angelica tree

Araliaceae Edible: Leaves, Buds Potential hazards — see below 135 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Aralia chinensis (known as Chinese angelica-tree, syn. Aralia sinensis hort.) is a species of the family Araliaceae native to China, Vietnam, and Borneo.

Description

A tall shrub or small tree. It grows 9 m tall. It spreads about 9 m wide. It develops suckers freely. The leaves are up to 1 m long and are twice divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 0.6 m wide. The flowers are off-white. They are small but occur in large panicles. Some consider it a deciduous form of Aralia elata.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Young shoots - cooked. Used as a vegetable. Blanched and used in salads. Although no records of edibility have been seen for the seed, it is said to contain 5.8 - 17.5% protein, 4.2 - 46.3% fat and 3.7 - 5.7% ash.

Traditional Uses

The young unfolding leaves are used as a potherb. They are used in stir fry dishes or eaten fresh.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Anodyne Carminative Diuretic Sialagogue The stem and root are anodyne and carminative. It is used as a warming painkilling herb in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The root is also considered to be useful in the treatment of diabetes and dysmenorrhoea. Some caution is advised since the bark is considered to be slightly poisonous. The stembark is diuretic and sialagogue.

Known Hazards

The bark is considered to be slightly poisonous.

Distribution

A temperate plant. It grows in warmer areas of China. It grows in wetlands. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. It grows in Yunnan and Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Europe, Himalayas, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia, Tibet,

Cultivation

Prefers a good deep loam and a semi-shady position. Requires a sheltered position. Plants are hardier when grown in poorer soils. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun. This species is closely allied to A. elata. A very ornamental plant.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 3 - 5 months of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 4 months at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are 25cm or more tall, they can be planted out into their permanent positions, late spring or early summer being the best time to do this. Root cuttings 8cm long, December in a cold frame. Store the roots upside down in sand and pot up in March/April. High percentage. Division of suckers in late winter. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Production

In Yunnan they are picked in April and May.

Other Information

The leaves are commonly eaten.

Notes

There are about 40-55 Aralia species.

Synonyms

See Aralia elata

Also Known As

Ci long pao, Gege, Liamu, MumIan Tou

References (17)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 3121
Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 202
Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 37
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 170
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 97

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