The Aralia Family
What are they?
The Aralia Family is a difficult group to sum up in a few words as it consists of a seemingly rather disparate bunch of trees, shrubs, climbers and herbaceous perennials. However, it should be remembered that plants are classified according to their flower structure and similarities in this area are not too difficult to find.
Where are they found?
The species that occur in Cape May will typically be found in shady woodland, although Common Ivy will thrive pretty much anywhere.
Identification
Common Ivy is well-known and easily recognised by its leaves alone. The Aralias are a mixed group, but readily told by leaf and flower features.
Japanese Angelica-tree Aralia elata
Introduced from Asia. Occasionally grown as a garden ornamental so may be found as a relic of cultivation or as a bird-sown seedling. Flowers July to September. A large shrub or small tree which spreads by suckering, spiny shoots that arise from an extensive root system. Perhaps best told from the native Devil's Walkingstick (Aralia spinosa) by the leaflets which have veins running to the outer edge and have almost no petiolules (the individual stalk of each leaflet).
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on mid-vein |
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Wild Sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis
A fairly frequent to common plant of old, undisturbed woodland, particularly in deeper, loamy soils. Flowers May to June. A low-growing, herbaceous perennial whose unassuming clusters of off-white flowers are easily overlooked.
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Common Ivy Hedera helix
(English Ivy) A common to abundant and often dominant, alien invasive from Europe. Grows either as low ground cover or climbing up and over trees, utility poles and buildings. Flowers September to November. Although an invasive alien, Common Ivy provides valuable food for wildlife in both its flowers and berries. The flowers appear in fall, when not much else is flowering, and are particularly popular with Monarchs, Red Admirals and other late-season insects. The berries appear in late winter and offer a food resource when few other berries are still around. Climbing and trailing stems have typically lobed leaves, but leaves of flowering stems are unlobed.
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unlobed leaves |
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Umbellate Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
A frequent to common, low-growing plant of seasonally flooded land on the edge of pools, lakes and other permanently wet areas. Flowers June to August. The disk-like leaves and rounded flowerheads are a distinctive combination.
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Whorled Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle prolifera
A rare plant of lake edges and wet ground, known for many years from several sites around Cape May Point. Flowers June to August. The disk-like leaves are similar to those of Verticillate Marsh Pennywort but after flowering, the seed capsules develop on long pedicels. Status uncertain in Cape May as this species was formerly considered to be a form of Verticillate Marsh Pennywort.
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long pedicel |
Verticillate Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
A rare plant of muddy ground along woodland streams and wooded swamps. Flowers June to August. Status uncertain in Cape May as this species formerly included Verticillate Marsh Pennywort. Currently known from two wetlands in mid-county. The disk-like leaves are similar to those of Whorled Marsh Pennywort but after flowering, the seed capsules develop on short pedicels.
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very short pedicels |
Dwarf Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides
Introduced from Asia. A tiny but potentially invasive species, first noted in Cape May County in 2013. Flowers June to September. A popular plant with aquarium enthusiasts which is becoming widely established in North America due to careless discarding of unwanted plants into the wider countryside.
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Floating Marsh Pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Widespread in North America but not reported from Cape May County before 2010 and probably introduced here from further west. Typically found in nutrient-rich ponds where its leaves float at the surface like tiny lilypads. Flowers July to September.
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