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Heptapleurum arboricola 'Variegata'
| Family Name: | Araliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Schefflera arboricola 'Variegata' |
| Common Name: | Variegated Dwarf Umbrella-Tree |
The Variegated Dwarf Umbrella-Tree (Heptapleurum arboricola 'Variegata') is a shrub with glossy, palmate leaves of 7 to 9 leaflets arranged in a whorl, resembling an umbrella spokes. This evergreen plant is commonly planted as screening plant and hedges in parks and gardens and grows well on well-drained, moist soil in semi-shade.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Epiphyte |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 4 m |
Biogeography
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
|---|---|
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | An evergreen shrub that grows up to 4 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaves are glossy, palmately compound, with 7 - 9 leaflets of obovate-oblong to oblong or elliptic in shape and measuring 6 - 10 cm long and 1.5 - 3.5 cm wide. The leaf blade has a cuneate base, acute or obtuse apex and entire margin. |
| Etymology | The genus 'Heptapleurum' means seven-ribbed, with reference to the 7 leaflets of the palmate leaf. The specific epithet 'arboricola' means living on trees, with reference to its habit that can be an epiphyte. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Flowerbed / Border, General, Hedge / Screening, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Easy to Grow, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Yellow / Golden |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Leathery, Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green, Yellow / Golden |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Leathery, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Palmate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute, Obtuse |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|---|
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1145 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2438 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
