Aralia thomsonii Seem. ex C. B. Clarke

The first author recognizes the following two varieties based on differences in indument and pedicel length, but they were not retained by Wen (Cathaya 15-16: 128. 2004), who indicated that pedicel length does not appear to exhibit any geographic structuring and can vary even within a single population.

Shrubs or treelets, 1.5-10 m tall, andromonoecious. Branches softly fulvous villous, with short conic prickles 3-4 mm. Leaves 2(or 3)-pinnately compound, with a pair of accessory leaflets at each division of rachis; petiole to 20-50 cm, pubescent, prickly; petiolules 0-12 mm; leaflets 3-15 per pinna, lanceolate to ovate, 8-20 × 3-10.5 cm, papery, both surfaces densely and softly fulvous villous, secondary veins 8-10 pairs, prominent abaxially, subconspicuous adaxially, tertiary veins subconspicuous abaxially, obscure adaxially, cuticle striate, base rounded to obtuse, margin serrulate, apex acuminate, occasionally acute. Inflorescence a terminal panicle of umbels, densely pubescent, unarmed; primary axis 10-25 cm; secondary axes 40-90 cm; ultimate axes with a terminal umbel of bisexual flowers and 1 to several lateral umbels of male flowers; bracts persistent, narrowly triangular to lanceolate, to 3.5 cm; umbels 8-25-flowered; pedicels 2-11 mm, densely pubescent. Ovary 5-carpellate; styles 5, free. Fruit globose to ovoid-globose, 3.5-5 mm in diam.; styles persistent, radiating. Fl. (May-)Jun-Aug, fr. Oct-Nov.

Guangxi, Yunnan [India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam].

Forests and forest margins on slopes or in valleys, roadsides, along streams; 200-2700 m.