Araliaceae

Oplopanax horridus

Devil's Club

Erect or sprawling shrub, densely covered with long yellow spines. Stems thick, mostly unbranched, often bent, tangling and forming thickets. Leaves to 14 in. across, deciduous, alternate on stem, maple-like, heavily toothed, with spines on veins and petiole. Many inflorescences in long spikes or cones atop stems. Flowers greenish white, small, with stamens exerted beyond petals. Berries scarlet red. Grows in streambanks and moist places within forests from Alaska to Crater Lake, the southern limit of its range. Spines on all parts of plant are irritating when touched.

• Rarity: Locally Common
• Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer
• Life Cycle: Perennial
• Height: 3--10 feet
• Habitat: Meadow, West-Side Forest, Bog/Fen/Wetland
• Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Crater Lake Np
• Native: Yes