The trunk branches and leaf stalks are very prickly and the twigs are thick and stout with a large pith. Trunks are sparsely branched. The bark is divided by shallow fissures into wide rounded ridges. The bark is sometimes used for medicinal purposes. The leaves are twice compound, very large, and clustered at the ends of the branches.
Foliage is dark green above and pale beneath.
Flowers are white and bloom in August. They are very small and form a terminal panicle which is usually over 3 feet long. Fruit is a drupe that matures in September or October. This species is related to ginseng, and the berries and the bark of the roots have medicinal uses. It has been reported from Ashtabula, Summit, Athens, Hocking, Jackson, Preble, Clermont, and Adams counties.