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Araliaceae (from the genus Aralia, the meaning of which is unknown). Ginseng Family. Fig. 45. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, often prickly or climbing: stems solid, pithy: leaves usually alternate, simple, or pinnately or ternately compound: flowers bisexual or unisexual, small, regular, epigynous, commonly in umbels; sepals minute, often almost wanting; petals 5, rarely more, valvate or imbricated, sometimes cohering at the apex and deciduous as a cap; stamens usually 5, alternate with the petals, and inserted at the edge of an epigynous disk, rarely twice or thrice as many; ovary inferior, 2-15-celled; cells 1-ovuled; styles as many as the carpels: fruit a berry, rarely splitting into segments.

Araliaceae (from the genus Aralia, the meaning of which is unknown). Ginseng Family. Fig. 45. Herbs, shrubs, or trees, often prickly or climbing: stems solid, pithy: leaves usually alternate, simple, or pinnately or ternately compound: flowers bisexual or unisexual, small, regular, epigynous, commonly in umbels; sepals minute, often almost wanting; petals 5, rarely more, valvate or imbricated, sometimes cohering at the apex and deciduous as a cap; stamens usually 5, alternate with the petals, and inserted at the edge of an epigynous disk, rarely twice or thrice as many; ovary inferior, 2-15-celled; cells 1-ovuled; styles as many as the carpels: fruit a berry, rarely splitting into segments.

The leaves of the English ivy (Hedera Helix) were used in medicine in olden times. The roots of ginseng (Panax Ginseng and Panax quinquefolium) are much prized in China where they are carried about on the person as a charm against disease. These roots are now extensively and profitably cultivated in America for the Chinese trade. The roots of Aralia nudicaulis (American sarsaparilla) are considered a tonic. Chinese rice-paper is made from the pith of Tetrapanax papyriferum simply by cutting the pith spirally into thin sheets. Many Araliaceae are grown as ornamental plants.

The leaves of the English ivy (Hedera Helix) were used in medicine in olden times. The roots of ginseng (Panax Ginseng and Panax quinquefolium) are much prized in China where they are carried about on the person as a charm against disease. These roots are now extensively and profitably cultivated in America for the Chinese trade. The roots of Aralia nudicaulis (American sarsaparilla) are considered a tonic. Chinese rice-paper is made from the pith of Tetrapanax papyriferum simply by cutting the pith spirally into thin sheets. Many Araliaceae are grown as ornamental plants.

Many genera are cultivated in America. Among these are: Acanthopanax; Aralia (including Spikenard, Hercules' Club or Devil's Walking-club, Wild Sarsaparilla, Bristly Sarsaparilla, Chinese Angelica Tree); Dizygotheca; Fatsia; Oreopanax; Polyscias; Pseudopanax; Hedera (English Ivy); and Panax (Ginseng).

Many genera are cultivated in America. Among these are: Acanthopanax; Aralia (including Spikenard, Hercules' Club or Devil's Walking-club, Wild Sarsaparilla, Bristly Sarsaparilla, Chinese Angelica Tree); Dizygotheca; Fatsia; Oreopanax; Polyscias; Pseudopanax; Hedera (English Ivy); and Panax (Ginseng).{{SCH}}

==Genera==

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| name = Araliaceae

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*Subfamily [[Aralioideae]]

*Subfamily [[Aralioideae]]

**''[[Anakasia]]''

**''[[Anakasia]]''

**''[[Platysace]]''

**''[[Platysace]]''

**''[[Xanthosia]]''

**''[[Xanthosia]]''

'''Araliaceae''' is a family of [[flowering plant]]s, also known as the '''Aralia family''' (after its [[type genus]] ''[[Aralia]]'') or '''[[Hedera|Ivy]] family'''. The family includes 254 species of [[tree]]s, [[shrub]]s, [[liana]]s and perennial [[herbaceous]] plants into 2 subfamilies. Species usually bear [[pinnate]]ly or [[palmate]]ly compound leaves, and usually have small flowers produced in large panicles.

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The family is closely related to [[Apiaceae]] and [[Pittosporaceae]], and the boundaries between these families and other members of [[Apiales]] are still uncertain. Some recent systems included Araliaceae in an expanded Apiaceae but this has not been widely followed. Molecular phylogenies suggest that at least some of the genera traditionally included in Apiaceae as subfamily Hydrocotyloideae appear to be more closely related to Araliaceae, and the inclusion of ''[[Hydrocotyle]]'' and ''[[Trachymene]]'' in Araliaceae has been recommended (Chandler & Plunkett 2004).

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The generic level classification of Araliaceae has been unstable; in particular, numerous genera have been synonymized under ''[[Schefflera]]''. Recent molecular phylogenies have shown that this large pantropical genus is polyphyletic and it is likely that it will be divided once again into several genera in the near future.

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

==References and external links==

==External links==

*Chandler, G.T. and G. M. Plunkett. 2004. Evolution in Apiales: nuclear and chloroplast markers together in (almost) perfect harmony. ''Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society'' 144: 123-147 ([http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00247.x abstract]).

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[[Category:Plant families]]

[[Category:Plant families]]

[[Category:Araliaceae| ]]

[[Category:Araliaceae| ]]