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Parasol Tree

Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms

Derivation of specific name

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
fulva: tawny, reddish-yellow
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Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=142900
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
original
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Flora of Zimbabwe

Description

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Large evergreen tree with a straight trunk, branches forming at high level. Leaves large up to 80 cm long, imparipinnate with 9-12 pairs of leaflets, terminal leaflet sometimes absent; leaflets, more or less narrowly ovate, 9-16 cm long, dark green and hairless above, covered in rusty-cream stellate hairs below; apex pointed; base lobed, clasping the rhachis; margin entire. Flowers small creamy-green, honey-scented in large, loose axillary heads. Fruit ovoid, up to 6 × 4 mm, ribbed, crowned with the remains of the styles.
license
cc-by-nc
copyright
Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=142900
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
original
visit source
partner site
Flora of Zimbabwe

Frequency

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Common in the E Highlands
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cc-by-nc
copyright
Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=142900
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
original
visit source
partner site
Flora of Zimbabwe

Worldwide distribution

provided by Flora of Zimbabwe
Widely distributed throughout tropical Africa
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cc-by-nc
copyright
Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten and Petra Ballings
bibliographic citation
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T. and Ballings, P. (2002-2014). Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms Flora of Zimbabwe website. Accessed 28 August 2014 at http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=142900
author
Mark Hyde
author
Bart Wursten
author
Petra Ballings
original
visit source
partner site
Flora of Zimbabwe

Polyscias fulva

provided by wikipedia EN

Polyscias fulva is a species of flowering plant. It is an evergreen or deciduous tree, native to the mountains of tropical Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.[3]

Description

Polyscias fulva is a deciduous or evergreen tree, with a straight trunk and a small umbrella-shaped crown. It can grow to 25 to 30 meters in height. It has a straight trunk, which is unbranched for most of its height. The trunk is unbutressed, and can grow up to 100 cm in diameter.[3]

The foliage is composed of large compound leaves, which grow in bunches at the top of the branches. The leaflets are dark green on the top, and white and tomentose on the underside.[2] It is similar in form and foliage to Polyscias kikuyuensis, but is distinguished by its flowers.[3]

The tree is typically fast-growing. In plantations in Cameroon, seedings can grow to 2–3 meters in height within four years, and within 20 years can grow up to 15 meters high with a trunk diameter of 20 to 40 cm.[3]

Habitat and range

Polysicas fulva is generally found in mountain forests, from 750 to 2,500 meters elevation. It grows best where the average daytime temperature ranges from 20 to 30° C and average annual rainfall is from 1,500 to 2,000 mm, but it can tolerate average daytime temperatures of 18 to 36° C, and average annual rainfall of 1,200 to 2,500 mm. It prefers well-drained sandy to loamy soil, with a pH ranging from 5 to 6.5, and can tolerate a pH of 4.5 to 7.[3]

It is found in montane rain forests, submontane forests, riverine forests, and mountain grasslands. It is a pioneer tree which grows rapidly in areas which have been cleared or burned, although it is sensitive to fire.[3]

It ranges across much of tropical Africa. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in West Africa, and across Subsaharan Africa from Ghana eastwards to Ethiopia, and southwards to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Angola. It is also found on the southwestern Arabian Peninsula in Yemen.[2]

Uses

The wood is lightweight and easily worked, but brittle and not durable. It is used in household objects and handicrafts, and for firewood.[3]

The tree's fast-growing habit makes it a useful tree in reforestation projects. It forms a rich leaf mulch on the ground below which improves soil. Its tall crown makes it useful in crop plantations which prefer light shade, including coffee, cocoa, and bananas, and it is often left uncut when forest areas are cleared for cultivation.[3]

The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen for honeybees.[3]

Conservation

The tree is widespread in suitable mountain habitats across Africa, and is assessed as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List.[1] The tree is becoming locally scarce in parts of its range where deforestation and fire are rampant.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polyscias fulva.
  1. ^ a b Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. 2019. Polyscias fulva. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T146201138A146201140. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146201138A146201140.en. Accessed on 17 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms". Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 17 March 2022. [1]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. Accessed 3 March 2022.
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Wikipedia authors and editors
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Polyscias fulva: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Polyscias fulva is a species of flowering plant. It is an evergreen or deciduous tree, native to the mountains of tropical Africa and the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN