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Species of tree

Aralia spinosa, commonly known as devil's walking stick, is a woody species of plant in the genus Aralia of the family Araliaceae. It is native to eastern North America. The various names refer to the viciously sharp, spiny stems, petioles and even leaf midribs. It has also been known as Angelica tree. This species is sometimes called Hercules' club, prickly ash or prickly elder. These are common names it shares with the unrelated Zanthoxylum clava herculis. For this reason, Aralia spinosa is sometimes confused with that species and mistakenly called the toothache tree. It does not have the medicinal properties of Zanthoxylum clava herculis. Aralia spinosa is occasionally cultivated for its exotic or tropical appearance because of its large lacy compound leaves. It is closely related to the Asian species Aralia elata, a more commonly cultivated species with which it is easily confused.

Aralia spinosa is an aromatic, spiny deciduous shrub or small tree growing tall. It has a simple or, occasionally, branched stem with very large bipinnate leaves long. The trunks are up to in diameter, with the plants umbrella like canopy in habit with open crowns. The young stems are stout and thickly covered with sharp spines. The plants generally grow in clusters of branchless trunks, although stout wide spreading branches are occasionally produced.

The young leaves can be eaten if gathered before the prickles harden. They are then chopped finely and cooked as a pot herb. Aralia spinosa was introduced into cultivation in 1688 and is still grown for its decorative foliage, prickly stems, large showy flower panicles (clusters) and distinctive fall color. These plants are slow growing, tough and durable, do well in urban settings, but bear numerous prickles on their stems, petioles, and leaflets. These plants can be propagated from seeds or root cuttings. Early American settlers used the plant for its alleged properties for curing toothaches. The plant was used as a medicine during the American Civil War. In a laboratory study, extracts from the plant showed antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria associated with wound infections.