Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Wild Sarsaparilla

During a rather long walk around Gaetz Lake, Red Deer Wetlands Area, on 2 June 2013, I suddenly spotted one of these Sarsaparilla plants. I think I've only ever seen them two or three times before, so I was thrilled to bits. After I'd noticed the first one this day, I discovered that they were growing all over the forest floor. My photo is a macro shot of one of the three clusters of tiny, white flowers mentioned below. The Red Deer Wetland Area is quite a long drive NW of Calgary - this enjoyable day was an annual bus trip with a group that I belong to, so the journey was total luxury for all of us.. "Aralia nudicaulis (commonly Wild Sarsaparilla, False sarsaparilla, Shot bush, Small Spikenard, Wild Liquorice, and Rabbit Root) is a flowering plant of northern and eastern North America which reaches a height of 30–60 cm (12–24 in) with creeping underground stems. In the spring the underground stems produce compound leaves that are large and finely toothed. Tiny white flowers, typically in three, globe-shaped clusters 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) wide, are produced on tall scapes that grow about the same height as the leaves. These bloom from May to July and develop into purple-black comestible berries. The leaves go dormant in summer before the fruits ripen. The berries taste a little spicy and sweet." From Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aralia_nudicaulis

This photo was taken way back on 2nd July 2009, at the Mountainview Sports and Handicapped Centre north of the city. I think I've only ever come across this plant two or three times, and it's not the easiest plant to photograph. Being posted for interest, not for photographic merit : ) "Sarsaparilla is a primary ingredient in old fashioned-style root beer, in conjunction with Sassafras, which was more widely available prior to studies of its potential health risks." From Wikipedia. Thanks, Papa Ellis! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aralia_nudicaulis