Evening star., 1944-03-23
This and That
By Charles E. Trdce1Ueu.
"TAKOMA PARK.


Dear Sir:
Some time ago read your article in
The Evening Star about the shrub, Her.
cules club, or devils walking stick
(Aralia spinosa), the fruit of which is
appreciated by many birds. Since that
time I have been trying to locate a
nursery having such shrub.
One nursery has informed me that
they do not have Aralia spinosa, but do
have Aralia pentaphyllum as possible
substitute
please advise me whether the fruit of
the latter shrub will answer the same
purpose as the one you referred to.
Thanks for this favor and the manv
interesting articles about our bird
friends which it has been my pleasure
to read over past years. I hope you will
be permitted to continue the good work
Sincerely yours, r. S. K"
X
We have not been able to find Aralia
pentaphyllum in any list Of shrubs liked
by birds.
The Hercules club or devils walking
stick Aralia spinosa, is frequented by
the bobwhite, te-throated sparrow,
pine grosbeak, olive-backed thrush,
ruff1ed grouse, the bluejay and the
bluebird.
The nannyberry is another nice tall
shrub, or tree. sought by the cedar wax
wing, robin, flicker, bluebird, grosbeak,
grouse, catbird, hermit thrush and bob
white
These associations of certain birds
with certain shrubs do not mean that
the moment they are planted the birds
will come flocking in
1t merely indicated that at certain
times, on certain specimens, the various
birds were SEEN 1t is quite possible, of
course, that one might have a handsome
devils walking stick without ever seeing
a bluebird in it.
The Hercules club is an oddity of the
shrub world. 1t has twisted, club-like
branches that stand out grotesquely in
the winter. At times it attains a
height of 40 feet, but usually goes to
about Is or 30 feet. 1t bears fine white
clusters of flowers in August. These are
followed by blackberries which are much
liked by birds. Leaves are large, and the
stems have bad spines. 1t is a tropical
looking shrub. and will not seem quite
right in certain gardens, but in others
1t will seem very appropriate. 1t ought
" to WCIl III tillS NltllllJy.
A relative is the Chinese Angenlica tree,
A. chinenSis. The Hercules club is not
quite as hardy as the Chinese specimen.
Others are A. albo marginata, with sill
very leaves: A. aureO-marginata, with
golden leaves, and A. SieboIdI This
last is japanese specimen, and the
American gardening world is not having
much to do with Nip plants at the pres
ent time.
There have been many disputes about
the members Of the Aralia family, and
some of them have been transferred to
other families
Under the name come such interest
ing plants as Aralia racemosa, or Amer
lcan Spikenard, once much used in In
dian medicine. 1t was called. in fact,
the Indian root.
Wild Spikenard, or false Solomon s
seal has no connection with the plants
Of this tribe. These latter plants belong
to the ginsing family. Ginsing is Panax
qulnquefolium. In Grays famous botany
book it was called Aralia quinquefolia
His Aralia trifolia is now the PanaX tri-
folium, or dwarf ginsing or ground nut
as it is called in some localities
Best plants of Hercules club are to
feet. In another 10 years they will be
about Is feet tall. 1t must be kept in
mind that these odd plants are best for
accent purposes, but that If they live
and do nicely they will bear many ber-
ries which will be liked by many birds.