Araliaceae

Ginseng Family / Ivy Family

Araliaceae, commonly known as the ginseng or ivy family, encompasses a diverse group of about 43 genera and roughly 1,450 species. Members include trees, shrubs, lianas (vines), and perennial herbs. The family is characterized by often large, alternate, compound or palmately lobed leaves, small flowers typically arranged in umbels, and fruits that are usually berries or drupes. It is closely related to the Apiaceae (carrot family).

Araliaceae example - Hedera helix (English Ivy)

Overview

Araliaceae has a predominantly pantropical distribution, but several well-known genera extend into temperate regions, including Aralia (spikenards, sarsaparillas), Hedera (ivies), and Panax (ginseng). The family holds considerable economic importance, primarily through medicinal plants like ginseng (Panax species) and eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and widely cultivated ornamentals such as English Ivy (Hedera helix) and Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica). Some species have edible parts, though caution is advised as many also contain potentially toxic compounds.

A key feature uniting the family is the inflorescence structure, typically involving simple umbels (flower stalks radiating from a single point) which are themselves often arranged in larger clusters like panicles or compound umbels. This structure is shared with the closely related Apiaceae family. However, Araliaceae are mostly woody (unlike the predominantly herbaceous Apiaceae) and their fruits are fleshy berries or drupes, rather than the dry, splitting schizocarps typical of Apiaceae.

Recent phylogenetic studies (APG system) have expanded the circumscription of Araliaceae to include genera like Hydrocotyle (water pennyworts), which were previously placed in Apiaceae or their own family, Hydrocotylaceae. These are typically small, creeping herbs often found in wet environments.

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Araliaceae
Common Name: Ginseng family, Ivy family, Aralia family
Number of Genera: Approximately 43
Number of Species: Approximately 1,450
Distribution: Pantropical, extending into temperate regions worldwide.
Evolutionary Group: Eudicots - Asterids (Campanulids)
Order: Apiales

Key Characteristics

Growth Form and Habit

Highly variable, including trees, shrubs, woody lianas (vines, often climbing with adventitious roots like Hedera), and perennial herbs often arising from rhizomes or tubers (Panax, some Aralia). Plants are often aromatic and sometimes possess prickles or thorns (e.g., Aralia spinosa).

Leaves

Leaves are usually arranged alternately and spirally, though sometimes opposite or whorled. They are often large and characteristically palmately compound, pinnately compound, or palmately lobed (e.g., Hedera, Fatsia). Simple leaves also occur. Petioles are frequently long and typically have a sheathing base that clasps the stem. Stipules are often present, sometimes appearing as wings on the petiole or fused into a ligule-like structure.

Inflorescence

The basic inflorescence unit is typically a simple umbel. These umbels are very often aggregated into larger, compound inflorescences such as panicles, racemes, spikes, or compound umbels. Terminal inflorescences are common.

Flowers

Flowers are generally small, inconspicuous, actinomorphic (radially symmetric), and usually bisexual, although unisexual flowers occur (plants can be monoecious, dioecious, or polygamous). Key features include:

Calyx: Sepals are highly reduced, appearing as small teeth or lobes (typically 5) capping the ovary, or sometimes absent altogether.
Corolla: Usually 5 distinct (free) petals, often greenish, white, or yellowish. They frequently fall off early (caducous).
Androecium: Usually 5 stamens, alternating with the petals, inserted on the edge of a nectar disc (stylopodium).
Gynoecium: An inferior ovary (rarely half-inferior) composed of typically 2-5 fused carpels (sometimes up to 100). Each carpel usually contains a single ovule. Styles are distinct or fused, often swollen and fleshy at the base to form a nectar-producing disc called a stylopodium, which persists on the fruit apex.

Fruits and Seeds

The fruit is typically a fleshy berry or a drupe (often containing 2-5 stones or pyrenes, corresponding to the number of carpels). Unlike the dry fruits of Apiaceae, these fruits do not typically split open at maturity. Each stone/locule contains a single seed.

Chemical Characteristics

The family is known for producing triterpenoid saponins, such as the ginsenosides found in Panax, which are responsible for many of its medicinal effects. Polyacetylenes and essential oils also occur, contributing to the aromatic nature of some species. Milky latex is generally absent.

Field Identification

Identifying Araliaceae often involves recognizing the combination of leaf type, inflorescence structure, and fruit type, while distinguishing it from the similar Apiaceae.

Primary Identification Features

Habit: Often woody (trees, shrubs, lianas), but includes perennial herbs.
Alternate, Compound/Lobed Leaves: Leaves are typically large, alternate, and either palmately/pinnately compound or palmately lobed. Petioles often have sheathing bases.
Umbellate Inflorescences: Small flowers are characteristically arranged in umbels, which are frequently grouped into larger compound structures.
Small, 5-Parted Flowers: Flowers usually have 5 small petals, 5 stamens, and an inferior ovary. Reduced calyx.
Berry or Drupe Fruit: Fruit is fleshy, not dry and splitting. Often capped by the persistent stylopodium and/or calyx teeth.

Secondary Identification Features

Prickles: Some species, like Aralia spinosa, are armed with sharp prickles.
Climbing Habit: Vines like Hedera climb using adventitious roots.
Stylopodium: A swollen, often nectar-producing disc at the base of the styles on top of the ovary/fruit.
Aromatic Parts: Many species have aromatic leaves or roots when crushed.
Stipules: Presence and form of stipules (often fused to petiole or ligule-like).

Seasonal Identification Tips

Spring/Summer: Large compound or lobed leaves are prominent. Flowering often occurs in mid-to-late summer or early fall.
Fall/Winter: Fleshy fruits mature and may persist, aiding identification. Evergreen species like Hedera are identifiable year-round. The distinctive structure of Devil's Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa) is noticeable in winter.

Common Confusion Points

Apiaceae (Carrot Family): Very closely related and shares umbel inflorescences and often compound leaves. Key differences: Apiaceae are mostly herbaceous, fruit is a dry schizocarp splitting into two one-seeded segments (mericarps), often have distinctive scents (parsley, dill, carrot). Araliaceae are mostly woody (though include herbs) and have fleshy berry/drupe fruits.
Acer (Maples - Sapindaceae): Have palmately lobed leaves similar to some Araliaceae, but leaves are opposite, and the fruit is a winged samara.
Vitaceae (Grape Family): Some grapes have palmately lobed leaves and are vines, but tendrils are typically present, and flower/fruit structures are different (superior ovary, true berry).
Rosaceae (Rose Family): Some members (e.g., Sorbus) have pinnately compound leaves, but flower structure (often showy, numerous stamens) and fruit type (pome, drupe, achene, follicle) differ.

Check: Habit (woody/herbaceous), leaf arrangement (alternate/opposite), fruit type (fleshy berry/drupe vs. dry schizocarp), and umbel presence.

Field Guide Quick Reference

Look For:

Woody or herbaceous habit
Alternate, compound or palmately lobed leaves (often large)
Sheathing leaf bases
Small flowers in umbels (often in compound inflorescences)
Inferior ovary
Fruit a fleshy berry or drupe

Key Variations:

Presence/absence of prickles
Liana vs. tree/shrub/herb habit
Leaf type (pinnate, palmate, simple)
Inflorescence complexity
Fruit color and stone number
Presence of specific saponins (e.g., ginsenosides)

Notable Examples

Araliaceae includes important medicinal plants, common ornamentals, and some distinctive native species.

Hedera helix

English Ivy

An evergreen climbing vine (liana) native to Europe and Western Asia, widely cultivated and often invasive. Climbs using adventitious roots. Exhibits heterophylly: juvenile climbing stems have palmately lobed leaves, while adult reproductive stems (often sun-exposed) have unlobed, diamond-shaped leaves and bear terminal umbels of greenish-yellow flowers followed by black berries.

Panax quinquefolius

American Ginseng

A perennial herb native to deciduous forests of eastern North America. Known for its fleshy taproot, valued in traditional medicine. Typically has a single stem bearing a whorl of 3-5 large, palmately compound leaves. Produces a simple umbel of inconspicuous greenish-white flowers followed by bright red berries. Wild populations are heavily harvested and regulated.

Aralia spinosa

Devil's Walking Stick / Hercules' Club

A deciduous shrub or small tree native to the eastern United States. Notable for its stout, sparsely branched stems covered in sharp prickles and extremely large, bi- or tri-pinnately compound leaves clustered at the stem tips. Bears huge terminal panicles composed of numerous small umbels of white flowers in late summer, followed by small, dark purple berries.

Fatsia japonica

Japanese Aralia / Paperplant

An evergreen shrub native to southern Japan and South Korea, popular as a houseplant and landscape shrub in mild climates. Recognized by its large, glossy, deeply palmately lobed leaves (typically 7-9 lobes). Produces large terminal compound panicles of globose umbels bearing small white flowers in fall, followed by small black berries.

Eleutherococcus senticosus

Siberian Ginseng / Eleuthero

A deciduous shrub native to Northeastern Asia. Known for its use in traditional medicine as an adaptogen (often referred to as "Siberian ginseng," though in a different genus than Panax). Typically has palmately compound leaves (5 leaflets) and stems that may be prickly. Produces umbels of small flowers followed by black berries.

Hydrocotyle umbellata

Manyflower Marshpennywort

A creeping perennial herb found in wet, marshy areas, native to the Americas. Represents a group often included in Araliaceae now (formerly Apiaceae/Hydrocotylaceae). Characterized by round leaves with petioles attached near the center (peltate) and simple or proliferating umbels of tiny whitish flowers borne on stalks taller than the leaves. Fruit is flattened, somewhat intermediate between a drupe and schizocarp.

Phylogeny and Classification

Araliaceae belongs to the order Apiales, within the Campanulid clade of Asterids. This order forms a well-supported group that also includes Apiaceae (Carrot family), Pittosporaceae, Griseliniaceae, Myodocarpaceae, Pennantiaceae, and Torricelliaceae. Araliaceae is considered the sister group to a clade containing Apiaceae and Myodocarpaceae, reflecting their close evolutionary relationship.

Historically, the boundary between Araliaceae and Apiaceae has been debated, with some classifications merging them. However, current APG systems maintain them as distinct families, while transferring some intermediate genera (like Hydrocotyle and relatives) into Araliaceae. The family Araliaceae is largely defined by its predominantly woody habit and fleshy fruits (berries/drupes), contrasting with the mostly herbaceous habit and dry schizocarpic fruits of Apiaceae.

Position in Plant Phylogeny

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms (Flowering plants)
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Clade: Campanulids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae

Evolutionary Significance

Araliaceae represents the primarily woody lineage within the Apiales order, contrasting with the largely herbaceous Apiaceae. The family showcases diversification into various woody forms (trees, shrubs, lianas) as well as secondary evolution of herbaceous habits (Panax, Hydrocotyle). The characteristic umbel inflorescence, shared with Apiaceae, likely evolved early in the order as an efficient way to present numerous small flowers to pollinators. The development of fleshy fruits facilitated dispersal by animals, contrasting with the wind or attachment dispersal common in Apiaceae. The production of diverse saponins and polyacetylenes represents a significant chemical evolutionary trend within the family, linked to both defense and medicinal properties.