Bristly Sarsaparilla; also known as dwarf elder or wild elder; native perennial.
Flower: Greenish white, small, numerous, in 2-10 rounded terminal clusters on slender stalks (July-August).
Leaves: Alternate, short-stalked; three sections, each with 3-5 leaflets; oblong- to egg-shaped; 2-5 cm long; margins toothed.
Stem: Bristly and branched.
Fruit: Dark-purple, rounded berries.
Height: 20-90 cm.
Habitat: Dry open to semi-open areas in rocky or sandy or sterile soils, often in extremely disturbed situations, such as clearings, rocky woods, tops of cliffs, sand dunes, recently-burned areas, even freshly bulldozed areas.