Oplopanax

Oplopanax
Oplopanax
Oplopanax horridus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Subfamily: Aralioideae
Genus: Oplopanax
Miq.
Species

Oplopanax is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Araliaceae, consisting of three species of deciduous shrubs, native to western North America and northeastern Asia. Oplopanax is closely related to the Asian genus Fatsia.

The species have spiny stems, large palmately lobed leaves, and whitish or greenish flowers occurring in terminal panicles. The fruit is a small spherical red drupe, popular with birds.

Oplopanax species are closely related to American Ginseng. The plant was used in traditional Native American medicine.[1]

References

  1. ^ Gregory L. Tilford. Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West, ISBN 0-87842-359-1. p. 50.


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