This study was carried out to investigate the food value of K. pictus sprouts. The total ginsenoside content was 67.4 mg/kg. Including Ginsenoside Rg1, a total of five different types were detected by the experiment. The total phenol content was 33.77 mg/100 g. Including seven different type of essential amino acids, the total amino acid content of K. pictus sprouts was 33,744 mg/100 g. The results of the analysis of the free amino acid content showed that the total bitterness was much higher than the total sweetness. From the above results, the food characteristics of K. pictus sprouts could be determined. To improve their consumption, their bitterness must be reduced.

A new cultivar of castor aralia (Kalopanax septemlobus Koidz) was developed via pure line selection at Korea Forest Research Institute. Among 200 plants, one clone was selected as it had improved characteristics for cultivation in 2002. Tested major characters were thorn appearance, size of lateral bud, the number of lateral bud, size of leaf and strength of shoot tissue. In 2006, the first Korean cultivar of castro aralia, Cheongsan was finally selected based on the performance of those characters for three years and registered the denomination of a new variety and certificated for variety production and merchandising in 2007. The new castor aralia cultivar, Cheongsan showed higher values for the most tested characters than control trees. Leaf length, leaf width and diameter of the bud base of Cheongsan were 17.22, 13.68 and 1.09 cm, respectively. Cheongsan also had higher number of shoots because it had twice as many lateral buds than control trees. Especially, Cheongsan has fewer thorns than control trees and its petiole color is light green. In addition, Cheongsan has shoot tissue which is advantageous in the use of shoot for a specialty vegetable.

New thornless cultivar of castor aralia(Kalopanax septemlobus Koidz.) was developed and selected in Cheongsong, Prov. of GyeongSangbuk-do during the period from 1994 to 1999 by Korea Forest Research Institute(KFRI). The new thornless cultivar, "Cheongsong II" is characterized by a thinner outer-bark and soft, wider leaves, and is particularly characterized by thornless stems. This cultivar has a thinner outer-bark(8.82mm) when compared with thorned type trees(13.95mm). It also has a larger leaves than does thorned type trees. Consequently, the new thornless cultivar, "Cheongsong II" is defined to have thinner bark and longer and wider leaves than do other thorned type trees. thorned type trees.

Castor aralia (Kalopanax pictus (THUNB) Nakai.) is one of the important medicinal and edible species growing in North Eastern Asia - Korea, Japan, and China. The stems and roots have been used as an ingredient in folk medicines, while terminal buds and yo