Castor-aralia
Kalopanax pictus
| Common Name: | Castor-aralia (a.k.a. Castor-leaved aralia) |
| Scientific Name: | Kalopanax pictus |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Growth Form: | Tree |
| Native Range: | |
| Invasive Range: | |
| Introduction: | The Castor-aralia escaped from cultivation and is distributed by birds who are attracted to the fruit. |
| Description: | ·Leaves: Grow out of alternate whorls, simple, 5-7 palmate lobes, 16-26 cm (7-12 in.). Dark, glossy green; yellow or red in fall.
·Twigs: Brown, very thick. ·Bark: Grows to be 13-20 m (40-60 ft.) tall. Deeply ridged and furrowed. Bark brown or black. Shoots have thorns, even on young trees. ·Flowers: Appear July through August. White, 2-3 cm (1 in.) in diameter. At end of 14-28 cm (1-2 ft.) stalk. Large bundles 14-28 cm (1-2 ft.) in diameter. ·Fruit: Appear in early fall. Black. 1 cm (0.5 in.). Eaten by birds. |
| Threats: | The Castor-aralia casts dense shade, stunting the growth of native vegetation. |
| Fun Facts: | The Castor-aralia is commonly used as commercial timber. In Asian medicine the bark of the stem is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis |
Whole Tree
Leaf
Leaf Glands
Bark
Young tree
Bark with thorns and leaf whorl