Family Index

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Scientific Name

Polyscias sambucifolia

Family Name

ARALIACEAE

Common Name

Elderberry Panax

Status

Vulnerable

Height

Flowers

No flowers or fruit have been found on Tasmanian plants, but plants on the mainland produce open greenish, five-petalled flowers in summer.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Evergreen tree with alternate leaves along the stem and in clusters towards the end of the branches. Leaves are dark green on the upper surface and light green on the lower, and usually have serrated edges. Leaves are composed of 3-5 stalkless leaflets.

Municipalities

Communities

Habitat Notes

Four populations near Bicheno, on the East Coast, are known. These occur on steep slopes and rocky outcrops on dolerite or granite.

Site Tolerance

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

General Notes

Tasmanian plants are currently reproducing by suckering from underground stems. Polyscias is usually grown from seed, which should be sown fresh. Remove flesh from fruits before sowing. Improved results have been obtained for other Polyscias species with bird ingested seed. May be possible to propagate from suckers. Not suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Produces succulent berries which are blue when mature.

Seed Treatment Method

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Germination Time

slow to germinate

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Also grown from cuttings.