Devil's walking stick is a wickedly thorny and exotic-looking woody plant native to woodland edges in eastern North America. This species, also known as Hercules club,produces unbranched woody stalks 6 to 20 feet high and large 3-4 foot fronds of twice-compound leaves with toothed leaflets. The stalks and raches (leaf stems) are covered with clusters of slender, stiff spines, arranged in rows at the leaf bases. In July to August the plants are topped with large panicles of airy white flowers which may be followed by small black berries favored by birds. Parts of the plants are toxic to humans, but medicinal tinctures are produced by herbalists. The plants send up sprouts, forming large thickets. They take full sun or light shade, and are tolerant of varying moisture conditions.