atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

Pre-World war I1 introduction. Melanesia to S . Polynesia. Common. Large shrub,
2 to 6 m tall, with weak, rapidly ascending vertical branches and light grey bark; leaves,
mostly 15 to 50 cm long, alternate, variable, but commonly broadly ovate or elliptic and
coarsely sharply-toothed or laciniate, rarely subentire, commonly variegated with white
or pale yellow margins, or sometimes all dark green, shiny; petioles, 2 to 3 cm long,
clasping the stem; flowers, rarely seen, small, 5-parted, petals, 2.5 by 1.2 mm, in
umbels, borne on a large, much-branched terminal panicle; fruit, usually 3- to 4-celled,
with 3 to 4 seeds, 4 by 5 mm. Planted ornamental, commonly as a hedge or living fence.
2, 3(58696), 5(20), 6, 7(27822).
Polyscias scutellaria (Burm. f.) Fosb. "panax"
te toara (K); lautagitagi (T)
syns. Crassula scutellaria Burm. f. ; Polyscias pinnata J.R. & G. Forst. ; Notho-
panax scutellaria. (Burm . f. ) Merr .
Recent introduction. S.E. Asia. Occasional. Medium-sized erect shrub, 1 to 3 m
tall, with weak, ascending branches; leaves, simple (unifoliate) or pinnate, with 3 or
sometimes 5 leaflets; petioles, at least 12 cm, petiolules, 2 to 5 cm or longer; leaflets, 5
to 14 cm in diameter, the terminal leaflet of compound leaves largest, orbicular-cordate,
concave and saucer-like, glossy, base subcordate-cordate, sometimes obliquely so, green
or with white or yellow variegations, some forms wavy or with blunt or rounded teeth
(crenate); flowers, borne in umbels on a much-branched panicle, small, about 3 mm
long, petals, about 2.5 mm long, 6 or 7 in number; fruit, flattened, 2-seeded (rarely 3-
celled and 3-seeded). Planted ornamental, commonly as a hedge or living fence.
3(58693), 5, 6, 7.
Polyscias tricochleata (Miq .) Fosb. "panax"
syn . P. pinnata. Fosb. cv. tricochleata. Stone; Nothopanax tricochleatus Miq.
Recent introduction. Pacific Islands. Rare. Erect shrub, 1 to 2 m tall; leaves
usually trifoliate (rarely 1 or 5 leaflets); leaflets, orbicular, white- or yellow-margined;
flowers and fruit unknown. Known to be a mutant form of P. pinnata. Planted erect
ornamental shrub with white-margined leaflets. 3(58674), 7(22325).
Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) Harms "Queensland umbrella tree", "octopus tree"
syn. Brassaia acrinophyllu End1 .
Recent introduction. N. Australia. Occasional. Small to medium-sized, soft-
wooded tree, up to 10 m or taller, with thick branches marked by conspicuous leaf-scars,
sometimes epiphytic; leaves, large, up to 90 cm or wider in diameter, palmately-
compound, umbrella-shaped, with 7 to 15, usually 7 to 9, leaflets, forming rosettes at the