Aralia continentalis Kitag.

Herbs, perennial, to 1 m tall, with stout rhizome. Leaves 2-or 3-pinnately compound; petiole 11-25 cm, sparsely gray pilose; petiolules 0-10 mm; leaflets 3-7 per pinna, heteromorphic, lateral ones oblong or elliptic to ovate, terminal ones obovate to elliptic-obovate, 5-15 × 3-9 cm, membranous, both surfaces gray pubescent, abaxially more densely so, base cuneate to cordate, margin irregularly serrate or biserrate, apex acute to acuminate. Inflorescence a compact terminal or axillary panicle of umbels, gray pubescent; hairy; bracts ovate, 1.5-2 mm, membranous, ciliate; umbels many flowered; pedicels 5-6(-10) mm, pubescent. Ovary 5-carpellate; styles 5, basally united, apically free. Fruit globose, ca. 3 mm in diam.; styles persistent, free arms recurved. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

A cool temperate plant. It suits sun of light shade. It is best in rich soil. It grows in forests and grasslands between 800-3,200 m above sea level in north China. In Sichuan.

The sprout is used to season cooked vegetables. The stems are fermented in salt or soy sauce.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.