Oplopanax horridus

(Sm.) Torr. & Gray ex Miq.

Devil's-club

G5Secure Found in 189 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148842
Element CodePDARA08010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderApiales
FamilyAraliaceae
GenusOplopanax
Synonyms
Oplopanax horridum(Sm.) Miq.
Other Common Names
Bois piquant (FR) devil's-club (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-07-12
Change Date2016-07-12
Edition Date2001-01-25
Edition AuthorsKelly McConnell
Range Extent20,000-2,500,000 square km (about 8000-1,000,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
Oplopanax horridus occurs from southern Oregon north through western Canada into Alaska. It also occurs disjunctly in Michigan and Ontario. It is relatively more abundant in the northern portion of its range, is considered a wetland habitat indicator, and grows in old growth riparian habitats. Although this species seems able to adapt to disturbance to a certain extent, it is threatened by high intensity fires, habitat loss, and over-grazing. This species is also potentially threatened by wild-collection for medicinal use. Interest in Oplopanax horridus for this purpose is reportedly increasing and it is closely related to other highly traded species, for which it has been used as a substitute.
Range Extent Comments
Oplopanax horridus is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, western Canada, and Alaska. It also occurs disjunctly in Michigan and Ontario, where it is considered rare.
Threat Impact Comments
Ecological threats to this species include habitat loss and fire. Habitat loss due to logging will threaten native populations, since this plant is very light sensitive (pers. comm. A. Bentley, October 2000, Alaback 1980). High intensity fires can devastate this species, however such fires may not be very frequent in its range, particularly to the north. Fire has been shown to kill populations that may take decades to regenerate by seed (Alaback 1980, Vance et al. in press). This species is also vulnerable to over-browsing by elk in limited areas.

Another potential threat is that cuttings of Oplopanax horridus collected from the wild appear to be gaining in popularity from the perspective of experienced herbalists (pers. comm. R. Klein, October 2000; pers. comm. A. Bentley, October 2000). Some experts in the medicinal plant industry have suggested that trade is medium to large and demand has increased over the past ten years (Robbins 1999). Specifically, O. horridus is gaining popularity for use as a supplement for controlling diabetes (pers. comm. A. Bentley, October 2000, Vance et al. in press). This species is also sold as "industrial grade Panax ginseng" (Vance et al. in press). Since it is possible to cultivate this plant and seeds and plants are commercially available (Vance et al. in press), it is unclear whether cultivation is relieving pressure on wild plants. Therefore, amounts of cultivated versus wild-harvested material in commercial trade should be investigated. This plant is also commercially available as an ornamental. Vance et al. (in press) suggested that utilizing specific harvesting techniques for sustainable use could alleviate long-term threats to wild populations. Therefore, potential threats caused by wild collecting can be mediated by individual collectors (see Vance et al. in press).
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

This is the only North American Oplopanax species.

Habitat

Oplopanax horridus is a late seral, climax and old-growth forest understory species (Vance et al. in press). A study in southeastern Alaska showed significantly more O. horridus growing in old growth riparian than upland hardwood forests (Hanley and Hoel 1996). O. horridus can be considered an indicator species for wetlands as it grows near springs and streams and in drainage, seepage, and wet bottom areas (Minore 1983) in sandy, loamy, or silty soils (Howard 1993).

Ecology

This species is browsed by deer and elk and provides shade cover for salminoids and other fishes (Vance et al. in press). It tends to grow in relatively "damaged" ecosystems (Vance et al. in press).
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
MontanaS5Yes
IdahoSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
MichiganS2Yes
AlaskaSNRYes
WashingtonSNRYes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS5Yes
AlbertaS3Yes
OntarioS1Yes
Yukon TerritoryS3Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (189)
Alaska (86)
AreaForestAcres
AnanTongass National Forest36,666
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
Brabazon AdditionTongass National Forest498,819
CalderTongass National Forest9,857
Central WrangellTongass National Forest13,397
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-13Chugach National Forest13,337
ClevelandTongass National Forest189,447
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Dall IslandTongass National Forest105,780
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
East MitkofTongass National Forest8,795
East WrangellTongass National Forest7,630
El CapitanTongass National Forest26,693
EudoraTongass National Forest195,022
Exit Glacier DonutChugach National Forest126
FanshawTongass National Forest48,248
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Freshwater BayTongass National Forest44,933
FrostyTongass National Forest39,941
Game CreekTongass National Forest54,469
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
HardingTongass National Forest174,349
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
HydaburgTongass National Forest11,171
HyderTongass National Forest121,723
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KadinTongass National Forest2,035
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
KogishTongass National Forest65,216
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
LindenbergTongass National Forest25,855
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
ManzanitaTongass National Forest8,401
Middle KruzofTongass National Forest14,724
MontagueChugach National Forest204,875
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North ClevelandTongass National Forest105,288
North EtolinTongass National Forest40,993
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
North WrangellTongass National Forest8,091
NutkwaTongass National Forest53,735
Outer IslandsTongass National Forest99,862
Pavlof-East PointTongass National Forest5,399
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
QuartzTongass National Forest143,003
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Rocky PassTongass National Forest78,163
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
Soda BayTongass National Forest78,091
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
South KupreanofTongass National Forest216,816
South RevillaTongass National Forest52,105
Southeast WrangellTongass National Forest18,377
SpiresTongass National Forest533,746
SukkwanTongass National Forest44,369
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Tasnuna RiverChugach National Forest348,866
Tenakee RidgeTongass National Forest20,527
Thorne RiverTongass National Forest72,983
TwelvemileTongass National Forest37,940
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
West WrangellTongass National Forest10,291
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Idaho (2)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
HoodooNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest153,868
Montana (25)
AreaForestAcres
Allen Peak #185Kootenai National Forest29,638
Barren Creek #183Kootenai National Forest14,534
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Berray Mountain #672Kootenai National Forest9,119
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
Buckhorn Ridge (MT)Kootenai National Forest34,716
Cabinet Face East #671Kootenai National Forest50,326
Clear CreekLolo National Forest5,538
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
Deadhorse Ridge Ra 1128Flathead National Forest23,648
Evans GulchLolo National Forest8,059
Government Mountain #673Kootenai National Forest10,090
Maple PeakLolo National Forest6,469
Mckay Creek #676Kootenai National Forest15,323
Mt. BushnellLolo National Forest41,798
Mt. Henry #666Kootenai National Forest13,603
North SiegelLolo National Forest9,208
Northwest PeaksKootenai National Forest15,358
Roderick #684Kootenai National Forest29,677
Saddle Mountain #168Kootenai National Forest14,675
Scotchman Peaks (MT)Kootenai National Forest53,909
South Siegel - South CutoffLolo National Forest13,474
Ten Lakes #683Kootenai National Forest48,545
Trout CreekKootenai National Forest30,851
West Fork Yaak #694Kootenai National Forest8,237
Oregon (21)
AreaForestAcres
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Calf - Copeland CreekUmpqua National Forest15,696
Drift CreekSiuslaw National Forest6,333
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
Gold CreekWillamette National Forest1,364
Hebo 1aSiuslaw National Forest13,930
LakeMt. Hood National Forest1,327
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Middle SantiamWillamette National Forest7,316
Moose LakeWillamette National Forest5,013
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Washington (55)
AreaForestAcres
Abercrombie - HooknoseColville National Forest33,862
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Blue LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest11,359
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
BourbonGifford Pinchot National Forest4,512
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
CortrightGifford Pinchot National Forest3,462
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
Eagle RockMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest34,064
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak IMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest15,175
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Grassy TopColville National Forest10,302
Grassy TopIdaho Panhandle National Forests13,485
Green MountainOlympic National Forest4,617
Heather LakeWenatchee National Forest10,628
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
Moonlight DomeOlympic National Forest4,919
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. Baker WestMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest25,390
Mt. BaldyOlympic National Forest3,557
Mt. ZionOlympic National Forest3,544
Nason RidgeWenatchee National Forest19,329
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Packwood LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest1,084
PompeyGifford Pinchot National Forest23,985
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Red LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest2,162
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
Rugged RidgeOlympic National Forest4,358
Salmo - Priest BColville National Forest11,869
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Silver StarGifford Pinchot National Forest7,779
SiouxonGifford Pinchot National Forest12,773
South QuinaultOlympic National Forest11,081
Stormy Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest32,612
StrawberryGifford Pinchot National Forest5,244
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
TumwaterGifford Pinchot National Forest8,676
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
Upper SkokomishOlympic National Forest9,311
References (12)
  1. Alaback, P.B. 1980. Provisional plant community types of southeastern Alaska. Unpublished paper on file at: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Intermountain Fire Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT 15 p.
  2. Bentley, Andrew. Herbalist. Lexington, KY.
  3. Cody, W.J. 1996. The flora of the Yukon Territory. National Research Council of Canada Research Press, Ottawa, Canada. 643 pp.
  4. Gleason, H.A. 1952. The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. 3 volumes. Hafner Press, New York. 1732 pp.
  5. Howard, J. L. 1993c. <i>Oplopanax horridus</i>. In: The Fire Effects Information System. Fire Effects Information System. Available online: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ (Accessed October 2000).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  8. Klein, Robyn. Instructor, Sweetgrass School of Herbalism. Personal communication.
  9. Minore, Don. 1983. Western redcedar--a literature review. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-150. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 70 p.
  10. Penskar, Mike. Personal communication. Botanist, Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Lansing, MI.
  11. Robbins, C. 1999. Medicine from US wildlands: An assessment of native plant species harvested in the United States for medicinal use and trade and evaluation of the conservation and management implications. Traffic North America. Prepared for The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA. Available at http://www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal/.
  12. Vance, N.C., M. Borsting and D. Pilz. 2001. Special forest products: species information guide for Pacific Northwest. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, General Technical Report PNW-GTR-513. Portland, OR.