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NatureNotes

Devil's Walking Stick

By Rudy Mancke
Stalk of a Devil's walking stick at the Asheville Botanical Gardens, Asheville, North Carolina
Celerylady
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Wikimedia Commons
Stalk of a devil's walking stick at the Asheville Botanical Gardens, Asheville, North Carolina

Devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa) is a woody species of plant in the genus Aralia, family Araliaceae, native to eastern North America. The common name refers to the viciously sharp, spiny stems, petioles, and even leaf midribs. It has also been known as Angelica-tree.

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Rudy Mancke
Rudy Mancke served as naturalist and co-host of South Carolina ETV's <i>NatureScene</i>, which began its long run in 1978. His field trips, broadcast nationwide, earned him a legion of dedicated viewers. Rudy's knowledge of the complex inner-workings of different ecosystems and his great admiration for the natural world make him the perfect guide. In fact, the National Wildlife Federation and the Garden Club of America honored his commitment to resource conservation with special awards. After retiring from SCETV, Rudy went on to become naturalist-in-residence at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. He hosted SC Public Radio's <i>NatureNotes</i> from 1999 until his death in 2023 at age 78.
See stories by Rudy Mancke