Schefflera umbellifera

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Schefflera umbellifera (Sond.) Baill.

Family: Araliaceae

Common names: false cabbage tree (Eng.); valskiepersol (Afr.); umsenge, umkisiso(Xhosa); umsenge, umgezisa, umbumbu, umbegele, umsengembuzi (Zulu); umsengambuti (Swazi); mosetshe (Northern Sotho)

SA Tree No: 566

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Introduction

This tree is an upright tree with a rounded crown suitable for a courtyard or gardens with limited space. It was selected as one of the South African Trees of the Year for 2005.

Schefflera umbellifera

Description

Schefflera umbellifera is a semi-deciduous tree of 6-20 m in height. It has a tall, straight, usually unbranched main stem, 0.6 m in diameter, and a much-branched, rounded crown. The stem has a rough, longitudinally fissured and grey-brown bark.

The leaves are clustered at the ends of the branches. The leaves are compound, digitate (leaflets arranged like a hand), with 3-5 oblong leaflets, leathery, glossy dark green above, paler beneath. The midrib is flat above and raised beneath. The leaf margins are very wavy, entire or serrated in the upper part, with a broadly pointed or notched tip. The leaf stalk is up to 200 mm long.

Leaves

Small, pale yellow flowers are borne in large, branched, terminal heads of up to 180 mm in diameter. The tree is very attractive when in flower, as the heads stand out well above the leaves. It flowers between January and May. The fruits are dark red, small, about 3 mm in diameter and round, appearing from June to August.

Photo Geoff Nichols

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

This tree is found in tall, moist, warm forest and in dry forest and on grassy hills, from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It also thrives at the coast up to an altitude of 1 200 m above sea level.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The genus Schefflera which has about 650 species, was named in 1776 by J.R. and G. Foster in honour of J.C. Scheffler of Danzig. This is the only South African member of the genus which occurs mainly in warm and tropical regions. It is closely related to Cussonia ; the Xhosa and Zulu common names are the same for Cussonia. According to Palmer & Pitman (1972), the specific epithet umbellifera refers to the umbellate arrangement of the flowers in which the flower stalk springs from the same point like the ribs of an umbrella.

Ecology

The flowers are visited by a number of insects that pollinate the flowers. The fruits are eaten by birds and this helps in seed dispersal.

Uses

Use

The wood of Schefflera umbellifera is white, soft and light and was used for making matches. The leaves are used medicinally to treat a wide variety of ailments such as insanity, rheumatism, stomachache, and malaria.

Growing Schefflera umbellifera

Grow

Schefflera umbellifera is a beautiful tree for gardens large and small. Its tall stem and round crown make it ideal for a shade tree. This is not a tree for very dry areas and as it has large thick roots, it should not be planted too close to buildings, pools or paving.

The tree is best grown from seeds. According to Elsa Pooley (1993), the seed that has been eaten by birds germinate best, as the acidic juices within the digestive system of the bird promote germination. Seeds are sown in a sandy loam soil mix in a seed tray. The tray should be kept moist and placed in a warm place for better germination. The seeds should take 4 to 6 weeks to germinate. The seedlings have simple leaves. Protect seedlings and young trees from frost. The adult trees should survive moderate frosts.

References

Coates Palgrave, M. 2002. Keith Coates Palgrave Trees of southern Africa, edn 3, Struik, Cape Town.
Leistner, O.A. (ed.). 2000. Seed plants of southern Africa : families and genera. Strelitzia 10. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Palmer, E. & Pitman, N. 1972. Trees of southern Africa. Balkema, Cape Town.
Pooley, E. 1993. The complete field guide to trees of Natal, Zululand, and Transkei. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
Van Wyk, Braam & Van Wyk, P. 1997. Field guide to trees of southern Africa. Struik, Cape Town.

Credits

Giles Mbambezeli
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
February 2005

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Tree

SA Distribution: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga

Soil type: Sandy, Loam

Flowering season: Late Summer, Autumn

PH: Neutral

Flower colour: Cream, Yellow

Aspect: Full Sun

Gardening skill: Easy

Special Features:

Attracts birds

Medical plant

Useful plant

Schefflera umbellifera