Polyscias fruticosa
Content
Description
Glabrous shrub or, small tree, up to 5 m, with branches bearing spirally arranged leaves towards their ends.
Leaves tripinnate, variable in size to c. 75 cm long;
Inflorescence a diffuse panicle;
Petals 5, 2 mm long.
Stamens 5.
Ovary turbinate, c. 1 mm high, 2-3(-4)-celled;
Fruit subglobose, fleshy, c. 5 mm ø when dry.
Distribution
other parts of the Indo-Pacific tropics present
Native country not properly known, cultivated throughout the region, and in other parts of the Indo-Pacific tropics.
Notes
The foliage of this plant is extremely variable in size and form. Typical plants are figured by Koorders (1916, l.c.) and by Ochse & Bakhuizen van den Brink (l.c.). These may be readily identified by the intricately compound leaf.
The individual leaflets are characteristically ovate-lanceolate and serrate to deeply pinnatifid. However, broader leaflets with simpler outlines are not uncommon. The more rotund, blunter leaflets of P. obtusa are considered here to be an extreme form of this species (the type is bipinnate).
Occasional specimens have leaves so much reduced that they are simply pinnate or unifoliolate when they approach forms of 6. P. cumingiana.
A number of names have been applied to horticultural forms belonging to this section of the genus (cf. ), but the interrelations of these will be understood only after intensive biosystematic study of the many cultivars.
The individual leaflets are characteristically ovate-lanceolate and serrate to deeply pinnatifid. However, broader leaflets with simpler outlines are not uncommon. The more rotund, blunter leaflets of P. obtusa are considered here to be an extreme form of this species (the type is bipinnate).
Occasional specimens have leaves so much reduced that they are simply pinnate or unifoliolate when they approach forms of 6. P. cumingiana.
A number of names have been applied to horticultural forms belonging to this section of the genus (cf. ), but the interrelations of these will be understood only after intensive biosystematic study of the many cultivars.
Citation
Bailey 1916 – In: Rhodora: 153
Seem. 1866: Fl. Vit.: 114
Boerl. 1890 – In: Handl.: 647
Back. & Bakh.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 168
Harms 1921 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 412
Clarke 1879 – In: Fl. Br. Ind.: 725
cf. Merr. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 295
Ochse & Bakh. 1931: Veg. D.E.I: 64: f. 37
Heyne 1927: Nutt. PL: 1209
Harms 1900 – In: K. Sch. & Laut., Fl. Schutzgeb.: 486
Koord. 1898: Minah.: 488
K. & V. 1900 – In: Bijdr.: 2
DC. 1830 – In: Prod.: 254
Miq. 1866 – In: J. Bot.: 363
Linne 1877: p. 281. – In: Fl. Filip., ed. 3: t. 78
Blanco 1845: Fl. Filip., ed. 2: 156
Seem. 1866: Fl. Vit.: 114,115
F.-Vill. 1880: Nov. App.: 101
Miq. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 410
Miq. 1912: Merr. Fl. Manila: 358
Miq. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 295
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 716
Merr. 1908 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: Bot. 84
Back. & Bakh.f. 1965 – In: Fl. Java: 168
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 765
Warb. 1891 – In: Bot. Jahrb.: 396
Koord. 1912 – In: Exk. Fl. Java: 716
Bl. 1826: Bijdr.: 830
Harms 1916 – In: Atlas: t. 679 S
Harms 1916 – In: Atlas: f. 680
Merr. 1923 – In: En. Philip.: 233
F.v.M. 1890 – In: Descr. Pap. Pl.: 60
Corner 1940: Ways. Trees: 150
Philipson 1978 – In: Blumea: 169
DC. 1830 – In: Prod.: 254