Araliaceae

Schefflera J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

First published in Char. Gen. Pl.: 45 (1776)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is New Zealand to SW. Pacific.

Descriptions

Araliaceae, J. F. M. Cannon. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Shrubs, trees or lianes, sometimes occurring as epiphytes.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves digitate, long-petiolate; leaflets entire to slightly serrulate or crenulate; stipules often conspicuous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a panicle of umbellules or of umbellules racemosely arranged on a main axis (capitulate in some species outside the F.Z. area).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers with 5–10 petals which may be functional or shed as a calyptra as the flower opens.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens equal in number to the petals.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk flat or slightly raised in the F.Z. species.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary with (2)5–8 locules, the styles prominent and equalling the locules in number, joined at the base and spreading above.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit subglobose to ovoid.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds laterally compressed, ellipsoid, smooth, with non-ruminate endosperm.
[FZ]

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
The largest genus in the Araliaceae with c. 600 described species, but up to 1100 species in total; widely distributed in tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres with at least 75 species in New Guinea.
Morphology General Habit
Shrubs or trees, sometimes climbers or epiphytes, unarmed
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules united within petiole
Morphology Leaves
Leaves palmately compound (rarely unifoliolate), margins entire to serrate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal or pseudo-lateral panicle or compound raceme; flowers arranged in umbels, heads, or racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphroditic or unisexual (plants andromonoecious), 5–11-merous; pedicels not articulated below ovary; calyx rim entire or 5-toothed; petals 5–11, valvate; stamens 5–11; ovary (4 or)5–11-celled; styles partly or completely united into a column or stigmas sessile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a drupe, globose or ovoid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds (4 or)5–11, laterally compressed; endosperm uniform or slightly ruminate.
Ecology
Schefflera species can be found in many different habitats including coastal and beach vegetation, primary and secondary forests up to subalpine forests from 0–4100 m.
Recognition
The genus is very variable especially in habit and size of the plant, as well as the size, structure and colour of the inflorescences and flowers, but it can be recognised as being woody, unarmed taxa with once palmately compound leaves and unarticulated pedicels.
[TONG]

Araliaceae, J. R. Tennant. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 0

Morphology General Habit
Trees or lianes, often epiphytic or possibly epiphytic at first and independent later
Morphology Leaves
Leaves petiolate, digitately compound; leaflets subentire to crenate
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules intrapetiolar, often connate with petiole for some distance
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences paniculate, with flowers ultimately in umbellules, fascicles or capitula; pedicels (where present) not articulated beneath the flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-margin repando-dentate to subentire
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5–10, sometimes calyptrate (being shed as a cup) or opening on flower
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens equal in number to the petals
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk flat, depressed or conically raised
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 5–8-locular; styles equal in number to the locules, connivent at base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit ± subglobose or ovoid
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds laterally compressed, ellipsoidal, smooth; endosperm nonruminate.
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2023. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2022 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Neotropikey

    • Milliken, W., Klitgard, B. and Baracat, A. (2009 onwards), Neotropikey - Interactive key and information resources for flowering plants of the Neotropics.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0