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Heptapleurum actinophyllum

(Endl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett (2020)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Asterids Order: Apiales Family: Araliaceae Genus: Heptapleurum

octopus tree, umbrella plant, umbrella tree

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees, occasionally epiphytic, 10–15 m tall, secretory canals present in most parts.

Stems:

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound (palmate). Alternate. Leaflets 5–18, elliptic to obovate, the largest ones 15–30 cm long. Apex caudate-acuminate to rounded or emarginate. Blades subcoriaceous. Leaflet margins entire. Petioles expanded into a sheath at base, leaflets petiolate; Petioles (20–)35–60 cm long. Stipules caudate, 5–10 cm long.

Flowers: Flowers sessile, 8–12 in heads, these numerous on stiff spreading branches 40–80n cm long. Inflorescence bright pinkish red throughout, paniculate. Peduncles 5–15 mm long. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Pedicels not jointed. Calyx small. Petals valvate, often calyptrate. Stamens usually as many as and alternate with the petals, istinct, inserted at the edge of the epigynous nectary disk.

Fruit: Drupes dark purple to black at maturity; concrescent in subglobose multiple fruits. Seeds 1 per pyrene; embryo small.

Ploidy: 2n = 24; 48

Habitat: Widely cultivated outdoors as an ornamental in other tropical areas and indoors in many temperate regions. naturalized in relatively low elevation; mesic; disturbed areas.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Only found in cultivation
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Pumehana Imada
  • Native to Australia and New Guinea. Grown as a pot plant and in gardens since about 1900 (Degener & Greenwell, 1951a). Schefflera actinophylla is easily recognized by its large, palmately compound leaves and distinctive pinkish red inflorescence an

Bibliography

Name Published In: Novon 28: 146 (2020)

Other References

Wagner, W. L., Herbst, D. R., & Sohmer, S. H. (1999). Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawai'i, Vols. 1 and 2 (No. Edn 2). University of Hawai'i and Bishop Museum Press.

Wagner et al. 1990:232 (K, O, M, H); Staples et al. 2002:5 (Mo); Staples & Herbst 2005:132 (KEY), 137 (DESCR); Oppenheimer 2007:19 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
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