Compilation
Schefflera abyssinica

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Name

Identification
Aralia abyssinica Hochst. ex A.Rich. [family ARALIACEAE ] Schefflera abyssinica (Hochst. ex A.Rich.) Harms [family ARALIACEAE ] (stored under name);
Related name
  • Heptapleurum abyssinicus
  • Schefflera hookeriana
  • Heptapleurum elatum
  • Schefflera acutifoliolata
  • Paratropia elata
  • Aralia abyssinica
  • Schefflera abyssinica

Flora

Entry for SCHEFFLERA abyssinica (A. Rich.) Harms [family ARALIACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora of Tropical East Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of Tropical East Africa, page 1, Author: J. R. TENNANT
Names
SCHEFFLERA abyssinica (A. Rich.) Harms [family ARALIACEAE], in E. & P. Pf. 3 (8): 38 (1894); V.E. 3 (2): 778 (1921); Lebrun in B.J.B.B. 13: 20 (1934) & Ess. For. Rég. Mont. Congo Or.: 183 (1935); Check-lists For. Trees & Shrubs Brit. Emp., No. 1, Uganda Prot.: 24 (1935); T.S.K.: 116 (1936); F.P.N.A. 1: 688 (1948); T.T.C.L.: 61 (1949); I.T.U., ed. 2: 35 (1952); F.P.S. 2: 357 (1952); F.W.T.A., ed. 2, 1: 751 (1958); T.S.K.: 55 (1961); F.F.N.R.: 313 (1962). Type: Ethiopia, Adua, Mt. Scholoda, Schimper 283 (BM, K, isosyn.!)
Aralia abyssinica A. Rich. [family ARALIACEAE], Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 336 (1847)
Sciadophyllum abyssinicum (A. Rich.) Seem. [family ARALIACEAE], in J.B. 3: 267 (1865)
Heptapleurum abyssinicum (A. Rich.) Vatke [family ARALIACEAE], in Linnaea 40: 191 (1876); Hiern in F.T.A. 3: 29 (1877)
Schefflera acutifoliolata De Wild. [family ARALIACEAE], in Rev. Zool. Afr. 8, Suppl. Bot.: 14 (1920) & Pl. Bequaert. 1: 155 (1921). Type: Congo Republic, Ruwenzori, valley of R. Lamya [Lamia], Bequaert 4310 (BR, holo.)
Information
An often spreading tree to 28 m. tall or an epiphyte; bark rough and fissured or smooth, grey-brown to grey-black and ± corky. Petioles up to 38(–42) cm. long by 5(–6.2) mm. diameter, glabrous or sparsely hairy at tip, rarely puberulous at base; leaflets 5–7, chartaceous to coriaceous, elliptic to broadly elliptic, narrowly ovate to ovate, sometimes somewhat oblong, occasionally narrowly obovate to obovate or oblanceolate, up to 27(–40) cm. long by 15(–20) cm. wide, gradually tapering to a ± truncate short- to long-acuminate or almost caudate apex, with a cordate or rounded, obtuse to cuneate base, with crenulate (rarely subentire) margins, glabrous or puberulous; petiolules up to 12.5 cm. long by 1–3 mm. diameter. Stipules upto 1.7 cm. long. Inflorescence an umbel or a short raceme of up to 12 racemes of pedunculate umbellules; primary branches up to 41 cm. long, often not floriferous at base, arising in axils of tomentose to puberulous bracts of up to 1.5 cm. long (this relationship obscured when primary branches umbellate); peduncles of umbellules (secondary branches) (0.6–)1.3–2.1(–4.5) cm. long, arising in the axils of glabrous to puberulous ovate to ligulate bracts of from 1.5–6(–8) mm. long racemosely borne along the primaries; pedicels up to about 36 per peduncle, often less, 2–11 mm. long; floral bracts obsolete. Fruits vinaceous, urceolate to subspherical, up to 5 mm. long and across, sulcate, glabrous or puberulous; stylopodium 0.5–0.7 mm. long; styles 5–8, free for 0.6–1.0 mm. terminally.
Range
DISTR. U1, 3; K3, 5; T4
Altitude range
1840–2770 m.
Distribution
KENYA Ravine District Eldama Ravine, G. A. Hoult in F.D. 1092!KENYA N. Kavirondo District S. Elgon, June 1933 (young fr.), Dale in F.D. 3097!KENYA Kisumu-Londiani District Tinderet Forest Reserve, 7 July 1949 (young fr.), Maas Geesteranus 5385!TANGANYIKA Mpanda District Mahali Mts., Wamusuku, 24 Aug. 1958 (fl.), Newbould & Jefford 1765! & below Kungwe Mt., Ntali R., 9 Sept. 1959 (fl.), Harley 9581!UGANDA Karamoja District Napak, 28 May 1940 (fr.), A. S. Thomas 3639! & June 1950 (fr.), Eggeling 5925!UGANDA Elgon, Butandiga, Feb. 1940 (fl. & fr.), St. Clair-Thompson in Eggeling 3952!
Distribution (external)
Cameroun
Congo
Sudan Republics
Ethiopia
also Malawi
Zambia
Notes
VARIATION. The variation in the outline of the leaflets is most striking, but since the extreme forms are not sufficiently well defined from the typical, subspecific recognition is not advisable.

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