Umbrella Tree

Schefflera actinophylla Umbrella Tree

DESCRIPTION

Upright multi-stemmed tree to 10m tall. Palmately compound leaves with 7–16 oblong to oblongobovate dark green leaflets 8–30cm long by 4–8cm wide (saplings with smaller leaflets), apex acuminate, base more or less rounded, margins entire. Petioles 15–40cm long; petiolules 4–8cm long.

FLOWERS AND FRUIT

Sessile flowers (with 7-18 red petals 3-5mm long) in short pedunculate heads 10–20mm wide; peduncles 1–25mm long, subtended by stipule-like bracts; stem of inflorescence to 60cm long. Drupe-ribbed dark red fruit 3–5mm long.

HABITAT AND RANGE

Often cultivated as an ornamental it is popular in gardens and sometimes epiphytic on rainforest trees. Found from Brunswick Heads north to Cape York and the Northern Territory. Native to the wet tropics.