Araliaceae

The Araliaceae are a family of flowering plants composed of about 47 genera and around 1500 species. They are primarily woody plants, along with some herbaceous plants commonly referred to as the ivy or ginseng family. The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely. It is predominantly distinguishable based on its woody habit, tropical distribution, and the presence of simple umbels.

There are numerous plants of economic importance amongst the Araliaceae family. Some genera, including Hedera (the ivies), Fatsia (Japanese aralias) and Heptapleurum (formerly Schefflera, the umbrella trees), are used as ornamental foliage plants. The Araliaceae family also includes Panax ginseng, the root of which is ginseng, used in traditional Chinese medicine.