Aralia stipulata Franch.

Wen (Cathaya 15-16: 48-52. 2004) circumscribed this species more broadly to encompass material from Gansu, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Sichuan (including the types of Aralia gaoshania and A. taibaiensis; see A. elata var. elata in the present treatment).

Shrubs or small trees, 2-10 m tall, andromonoecious. Branches nearly unarmed, with swollen, conic prickles at base. Leaves 2-pinnately compound, with a pair of accessory leaflets at each division of rachis; petiole to ca. 15 cm, glabrous, unarmed; petiolules to 4 mm; leaflets 3-11 per pinna, ovate to narrowly ovate, 5-12 × 2.5-8 cm, papery to subleathery, both surfaces glabrous, abaxially rarely pilose on veins, secondary veins 6 or 7 pairs, base rounded, margin serrate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of umbels, unarmed; primary axis to 45 cm; secondary axes 30-45 cm; ultimate axes with a terminal umbel of bisexual flowers and 1 to several lateral umbels of male flowers; bracts persistent, lanceolate, 8-15 mm; umbels 20-40-flowered; pedicels 8-12 mm, pubescent. Ovary 5-carpellate; styles 5, united basally, free apically. Fruit globose, ca. 3 mm in diam.; styles persistent, recurved. Fl. Jun-Aug.

Yunnan (Eryuan, Jingdong, Weixi).

● Forests; ca. 3000 m.

Eleutherococcus mairei H. Léveillé.