Castor Aralia of Gongbuk-ri, Cheongju

Basic information

Designation

Natural Monument No.305

Category

동식물

Designated year

1982

Location

청주시, 충청북도— 충북 청주시 흥덕구 오송읍 공북리 318-2번지

Coordinates

36.646601, 127.313643

The Carster Aralia is called Eomnamu in Korea. Distributed in Japan, China, and Korea, its soft leaves can be eaten as herb salad, and its spiny branch is believed to ward off evil spirits. In the old days, Korean people made a hexagonal toy with this tree and gave it to their child because they believed that this toy will protect their child from evil spirits. As this Korean custom was called Eum, the tree is called Eumnamu in Korea. It is about 700 years old, with height of 8.96m and girth of 4.94m and its thick branches spread toward all directions. The tree was once worshipped by the local community as a village guardian.. However, it now stands forlornly in the mountain. Since the carster aralia of Gongbuk-ri is biologically valuable and has been preserved well by our ancestors for a long time, it is designated and protected as a Natural Monument.

Location