Aralia racemosa

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Aralia racemosa
    n 1: unarmed woody rhizomatous perennial plant distinguished
         from wild sarsaparilla by more aromatic roots and panicled
         umbels; southeastern North America to Mexico [syn:
         {American spikenard}, {petty morel}, {life-of-man}, {Aralia
         racemosa}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Spikenard \Spike"nard\, n.[For spiked nard; cf. G. spieknarde,
   NL. spica nardi. See {Spike} an ear, and {Nard}.]
   1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant. In the United States it is the
      {Aralia racemosa}, often called {spignet}, and used as a
      medicine. The spikenard of the ancients is the
      {Nardostachys Jatamansi}, a native of the Himalayan
      region. From its blackish roots a perfume for the hair is
      still prepared in India.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A fragrant essential oil, as that from the {Nardostachys
      Jatamansi}.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

life-of-man \life-of-man\ n.
   An unarmed woody rhizomatous perennial plant ({Aralia
   racemosa}) distinguished from wild sarsaparilla by more
   aromatic roots and panicled umbels; it grows from
   Southeastern North America to Mexico.

   Syn: American spikenard, petty morel, {Aralia racemosa}.
        [WordNet 1.5]