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Glite Dictionary
Aralia spinosa

Aralia spinosa

9.9
A small tree or bush in the eastern United States with large leaves and sharp thorns on its stems
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Aralia spinosa
  • The sharp thorns along the stem make Aralia spinosa easy to identify in the wild.

Examples

  • Gardeners sometimes plant Aralia spinosa for its dramatic foliage and wildlife habitat.

  • Hikers in the Appalachians often encounter patches of Aralia spinosa growing along the trail.

  • The Aralia spinosa is often found in the wild.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the beauty of Aralia spinosa.

  • Gardeners sometimes plant Aralia spinosa for its dramatic foliage and ability to provide wildlife habitat.

  • Hikers in the Appalachians often encounter patches of Aralia spinosa growing along the trail.

  • The sharp thorns along the stem make Aralia spinosa easily identifiable in the wild.

Synonyms

devil's walking stick
vsAralia spinosa
  • US
9.9

A small tree or bush with spiny stems and large leaves

is the formal scientific designation used in botanical contexts

Surface Forms

Aralia spinosa singular
Aralia spinosas plural

Morphology

aralia + spinosa

This binomial is transparently compositional: 'Aralia' names the plant genus and 'spinosa' is a Latin adjective meaning 'spiny' or 'thorny', so the phrase denotes a spiny Aralia. Botanical Latin names routinely describe salient features, so a learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Aralia spinosa may get its name from its very sharp stems: spinosa means 'spiny'. The stick-like, thorny stems look like a prickly 'walking stick', so people called it 'devil's walking stick'.