Some 40 species of deciduous or evergreen herb, shrubs, vines or trees, often bristly or prickly.  Leaves simple or pinnately compound, alternately or spirally arranged, leaflets often stalked and toothed.   Flowers in clusters, usually terminal, small, green, yellow, or white.  Fruit small, round, often shiny black.  Native to southern and eastern Asia, Malaysia and the Americas.
Aralia: from the French-Canadian name aralie.

Pronunciation: 
a-RAH-lee-a
Family: 
Araliaceae