Korean angelica-tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Japanese angelica-tree
• Japanese aralia
• Japanese angelica tree

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dimorphanthus elatus
• Aralia chinensis var. elata
• Aralia spinosa var. elata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Apiales, it is classified under the family Araliaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Aralia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. It can also be found growing within the territories of Sweden. Moving toward Middle Europe, the species is recorded in Austria. These locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in both northern and central climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Aralia elata is characterized by its specific preference for various forest environments, where it is frequently found inhabiting dense forests, forest edges, and cut-over forest areas. This species maintains a highly specialized and consistent altitudinal distribution, occurring at a precise elevation of approximately 1000 m AMSL. Its ecological niche is defined by this stable elevation, with both its minimum and maximum recorded limits converging at the 1000 m AMSL mark, suggesting a narrow vertical range within its preferred forest habitats.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

cut-over forest, forest, forest edges

Life history

The life history of Aralia elata is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its conducting shoots well above the ground level, which contributes to its structural development and stature. The species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage periodically as part of its seasonal cycle. Additionally, its life form can be classified as a nanophanerophyte, reflecting its specific architectural growth pattern within its ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aralia elata is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, not acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is described as self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 7 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 3.75 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

3.75 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aralia elata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and energy production processes. Its foliage exhibits a distinct morphological structure, featuring ovate-lanceolate leaf forms with toothed margins. The leaves are dimensionally variable, with a minimum length of 5 cm and a mean length of 10 cm, reaching a maximum length of 15 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. Although the plant does not possess leaf thorns, it is characterized by the presence of leaf spines, which serve as a key structural feature of its vegetative anatomy.

Leaf form :

ovate-lanceolate

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf margin :

toothed

Leaf spines :

yes

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Aralia elata is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and the production of small, fleshy fruits. The flowering period typically commences in August and concludes within the same month, although the timing can be variable. During the reproductive phase, the plant produces inflorescences that range in length from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 0.45 m. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that maintain a consistent dimension, with a mean, minimum, and maximum length of 0.4 cm and a corresponding mean, minimum, and maximum width of 0.4 cm. The seeds contained within these fruits are notably minute, possessing a consistent mean seed mass of 0.00075 g (which serves as both the minimum and maximum value) and a uniform seed volume of 0.66 mm³ across the minimum, mean, and maximum measurements.

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.45 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.3 m

Seed mass mean:

0.00075 g

Seed volume max:

0.66 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aralia elata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root, flower, stem.

Leaf

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Flower

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Stem

1. Genetics and molecular research : GMR

Chemicals

Aralia elata has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Araloside C, Calenduloside E, CE, CEA.

Saponins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Natural product research
3. Scientific reports
4. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Araloside C

1. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Calenduloside E

1. Journal of advanced research
2. Pharmaceutical biology

CE

1. Pharmaceutical biology

CEA

1. Pharmaceutical biology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Congmuyanoside A

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Elatoside C

1. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

Elatoside E

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Elatoside F

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Activities

Aralia elata has 3 reported activities identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardioprotective, Hypoglycemic, Antioxidant.

Cardioprotective

1. Journal of advanced research
2. Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death
3. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine

Hypoglycemic

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. International journal of biological macromolecules

Antioxidant

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Conditions

Aralia elata has 7 reported investigations on conditions identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include asthma, atherosclerosis, breast cancer, cough, hepatic steatosis.

Asthma

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Atherosclerosis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Breast cancer

1. Drug and chemical toxicology

Cough

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatic steatosis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. International journal of biological macromolecules

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Aralia elata has 3 reported preparations identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include root bark, ethanol extract from leaves, root cortex.

Root bark

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Phytochemistry

Ethanol extract from leaves

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Root cortex

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin