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Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms
| Family Name: | Araliaceae |
| Synonyms: | Aralia fruticosa, Nothopanax fruticosus, Panax fruticosus, Tieghemopanax fruticosus, Aralaia deleauana, Aralia massangeana, Aralia tripinnata, Polyscias fruticosa var. plumata |
| Common Name: | Ming Aralia, 南洋参, 羽叶南洋参 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub, Tree (Shrubby (1m-5m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Bismarck Archipelago, Maluku, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Queensland, Sulawesi, Vanuatu |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small to medium-sized shrub or treelet, able to grow up to 3 - 5 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Green leaves; 3-5-pinnate, mostly 3-pinnately compound; petiole measuring about 5 - 15 cm long, petiolules measuring about 1 - 5 cm long, lanceolate leaflets with toothed margins. |
| Flowers | Pale yellow to white flowers in a terminal inflorescence, a panicle of umbels, andromonoecious (having both male and bisexual flowers in the same plant). <1> |
| Fruit | Fruit is an orbicular to ovate-orbicular drupe, flattened laterally, measuring 4 - 5 mm long and 4.5 - 6 mm wide. |
| Etymology | Genus Polyscias means "many-shaded" and refers to the foliage of the plant. Species epithet fruticosa refers to the shrub-like habit of the plant. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: The leaves are commonly used to treat hemorrhoids in Malaysia. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Hedge / Screening, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting, Suitable for Bonsai |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Tripinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed, Pinnately Lobed / Pinnatifid |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Non-Accessory Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30286 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4595 |
| 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. |
