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Heptapleurum actinophyllum (Endl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett

Family Name:	Araliaceae
Synonyms:	Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) Harms, Brassaia actinophylla Endl.
Common Name:	Umbrella Tree, Octopus Tree, Australian Ivy - Palm, Queensland, Ivy Palm, Brassaia, 伞树, 澳洲鸭脚木

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Indoor Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Epiphyte

Tree

Schefflera actinophylla - inflorescence & leaves

Schefflera actinophylla - inflorescence bud

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Epiphyte
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	8 m to 15 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Tropical Australia, Papua New Guinea
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Medium-sized tree, up to 15 m tall in natural habitat but only 8 m under cultivation. Multi-stemmed, needs to be trimmed to give a single trunk tree appearance. Also an epiphyte, capable of clasping its roots around the trees, acting like strangling figs. Leaves compound palmate, 7 - 16 stalks leaflets arranged in a whorl, each 10 - 30 cm x 4 - 10 cm, leathery, oblong - elliptic in shape. Inflorescences in racemes, 10 - 15 stiff and long stalks radiating from a single point, up to 60 cm in length. Individual flowers red and small, 0.6 cm wide, bisexual, fragrant with 11 petals, 11 stamens and no sepals. Fruits are fleshy drupes, purple, containing up to 8 seeds.Propagated via seeds, cuttings and marcotting, cultivated both outdoors and indoors, on ground and in pots respectively. Adaptable but prefers rich and moist well-drained soil. Tendency to shed large amount of leaves and seeds itself easily.Genus commemorates 19th century Polish botanistand explorer J. C. Scheffler and species epithet derived from Greek word 'aktis', meaning a ray and 'pullon' meaning a leaf, referring to the whorled arrangement of the leaves.

Others - Plant Morphology

Medium-sized tree, up to 15 m tall in natural habitat but only 8 m under cultivation. Multi-stemmed, needs to be trimmed to give a single trunk tree appearance. Also an epiphyte, capable of clasping its roots around the trees, acting like strangling figs. Leaves compound palmate, 7 - 16 stalks leaflets arranged in a whorl, each 10 - 30 cm x 4 - 10 cm, leathery, oblong - elliptic in shape. Inflorescences in racemes, 10 - 15 stiff and long stalks radiating from a single point, up to 60 cm in length. Individual flowers red and small, 0.6 cm wide, bisexual, fragrant with 11 petals, 11 stamens and no sepals. Fruits are fleshy drupes, purple, containing up to 8 seeds.Propagated via seeds, cuttings and marcotting, cultivated both outdoors and indoors, on ground and in pots respectively. Adaptable but prefers rich and moist well-drained soil. Tendency to shed large amount of leaves and seeds itself easily.Genus commemorates 19th century Polish botanistand explorer J. C. Scheffler and species epithet derived from Greek word 'aktis', meaning a ray and 'pullon' meaning a leaf, referring to the whorled arrangement of the leaves.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers) (Day)
Landscape Uses	General, Flowerbed / Border, Focal Plant, Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Roadside Tree / Palm
Thematic Landscaping	Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden, Butterfly Garden

SGMP Treatment
Usage Hazard - Cons	Invasive / Potentially Invasive

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird Attracting, Butterfly Food Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Vertebrates (Bird))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Well-Drained Soils, Acidic (low pH) Soils, Alkaline high pH Soils
Propagation Method	Seed, Marcotting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Foliar Type	Compound (Palmate)
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Typical Foliar Area	Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Stem Type & Modification	Herbaceous

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Red
Inflorescence Type	Raceme

Ovary Position	Inferior / Epipgynous
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black, Purple
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Drupe

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1822
Species ID	3115
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.

Species record last updated on: 18 February 2022.