Attached are two photos taken last fall. In the spring there are super tiny very sharp little spikes on the tree stalk. The smaller branches fall off each year. We think it may be from Australia or New Zealand. Tell me what it is. Please help.
Probably Aralia elata, which, according to Wikipedia, is native to eastern Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. I have seen some of these with spines, particularly on new growth. There is also Aralia spinosa, that is supposed to have spines on everything, but that is native to southeastern US.
