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Umbrella Tree (view source)

Revision as of 01:38, 21 May 2010

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|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
 
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
 
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|image=Upload.png
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|image=Octopus Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) at Hyderabad, AP W 283.jpg
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|image_width=200
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}}
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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Schefflera actinophylla''
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| image = Flowering Umbrella Tree.JPG
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| image_width = 240px
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| image_caption = ''[[Schefflera actinophylla]]'' in the [[Cooktown]] Botanic Gardens, Queensland
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| regnum = [[Plantae]]
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| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Apiales]]
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| familia = [[Araliaceae]]
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| subfamilia = [[Aralioideae]]
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| genus = ''[[Schefflera]]''
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| species = '''''S. actinophylla'''''
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| binomial = ''Schefflera actinophylla''
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| binomial_authority = ([[Stephan Ladislaus Endlicher|Endl.]]) [[H.A.T.Harms]]
   
}}
 
}}
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'''''Schefflera actinophylla''''' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''Brassaia actinophylla'') is a tree in the [[Araliaceae]] family. It is native to tropical [[rainforest]]s and [[gallery forest]]s in [[Australia]] (eastern [[Queensland]] and the [[Northern Territory]]), [[New Guinea]] and [[Java]]. Common names include '''Umbrella Tree''', '''Octopus Tree''' and '''Amate'''.
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[[Image:Umbrella Tree flowers.jpg|thumb|Umbrella Tree flowers]]
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[[Image:Octopus Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) fruits or flowers at tree canopy at Hyderabad, AP W 281.jpg|thumb|tree canopy]]
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[[Image:Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on Umbrella Tree.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Rainbow Lorikeet]]s feeding on Umbrella Tree]]
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''S. actinophylla'' is an [[evergreen]] [[tree]] growing to 15&nbsp;m (49&nbsp;ft) tall. It has compound medium green leaves in groups of seven leaves. It is usually multi-trunked, and the flowers develop at the top of the tree. It often grows as an [[epiphyte]] on other rainforest trees.<ref>Martin (2005), p. 43.</ref> It produces racemes up to 2 metres (6.5&nbsp;feet) long containing up to 1,000 small dull red flowers. Flowering begins in early summer and typically continues for several months.
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'''''Schefflera actinophylla''''' ([[synonymy|syn.]] ''Brassaia actinophylla'') is a tree in the [[Araliaceae]] family. It is native to tropical [[rainforest]]s in [[Australia]] (eastern [[Queensland]] and the [[Northern Territory]]), [[New Guinea]] and [[Java]]. Common names include '''Umbrella Tree''' and '''Octopus Tree'''. The genus [[Schefflera]] was named after a 19th century botanist, J.C. Scheffler.
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The plant produces up to 1000 flowers generating large amounts of nectar which attracts honey-eating birds which then spread the seeds. The fruits are eaten by many birds and animals including Musky [[Rat Kangaroo]]s, Red-legged [[Pademelon]]s and Spectacled [[Flying Fox]]es.<ref>Beasley (2006).</ref> Its leaves are a favourite food of the [[Bennett's Tree-kangaroo]] (''Dendrolagus bennettianus'').<ref>Pers. comm. Lewis Roberts OAM</ref><ref>Martin (2005).</ref><ref>Beasley (2009), p. 105.</ref>
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==Description==
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==Cultivation==
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''S. actinophylla'' is an [[evergreen]] [[tree]] growing to 15 m (49 ft) tall. It has compound medium green leaves in groups of seven leaves. It is usually multi-trunked, and the flowers develop at the top of the tree. It often grows as an [[epithytic|epiphyte]] on other rainforest trees.<ref>Martin, Roger. 2005. ''Tree-kangaroos of Australia and New Guinea'', p. 43, note. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic., Australia. ISBN 0-643-09072-X</ref>. It produces racemes up to 2 metres (6.5 feet) long containing up to 1,000 small dull red flowers. Flowering begins in early summer and typically continues for several months.
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''Schefflera actinophylla'' is commonly grown in mild to warm climates as a decorative tree in larger gardens and, when mature, it has bright red spikes of flowers with up to 20 racemes which develop in summer or early autumn. It prefers well-drained soil and only needs occasional watering and feeding to thrive. It is, however, an aggressive plant and its roots can dominate surrounding soil. In some areas (e.g., [[Florida]] & [[Hawaii]] USA) it is an invasive weed and therefore planting is highly unadvised.<ref>[http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/hortweeds/species/schact.htm ''Schefflera&nbsp;actinophylla'': information from the&nbsp;Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR)]</ref>
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==Ecology==
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===Propagation===
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The flowers produce large amounts of nectar which attracts honey-eating birds. The fruits are eaten by many birds and animals including Musky [[Rat Kangaroo]]s, Red-legged [[Pademelon]]s and Spectacled [[Flying Fox]]es.<ref>Beasley, John. (2006). ''Plants of Tropical North Queensland: The Compact Guide''. Footloose Publications, [[Kuranda]], Australia. ISBN 1-876617-13-6</ref> Its leaves  are a favourite food of the [[Bennett's Tree-kangaroo]] (''Dendrolagus bennettianus'').<ref>Pers. comm. Lewis Roberts OAM</ref><ref>Martin, Roger. 2005. ''Tree-kangaroos of Australia and New Guinea''. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Vic., Australia. ISBN 0-643-09072-X</ref>
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Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
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==Cultivation==
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===Pests and diseases===
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''S. actinophylla'' is commonly grown in mild to warm climates as a decorative tree in larger gardens and, when mature, it has bright red spikes of flowers with up to 20 racemes which develop in summer or early autumn. Propagation is by seed or cuttings. It prefers well-drained soil and only needs occasional watering and feeding to thrive. It is, however, an aggressive plant and its roots can dominate surrounding soil. In some areas (eg [[Florida]], USA) it is listed as an invasive weed.
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==Varieties==
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==Trivia==
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On VH1's [[America's Most Smartest Model]], contestant Blonde Rachel was asked to walk down the runway while naming several types of trees.  Upon saying "Umbrella Tree", she was criticized by host [[Ben Stein]] who claimed that he had never heard of an Umbrella Tree, and implied that there was no such thing.  Nonetheless, Rachel and VH1 cleared this up and stated that Umbrella Trees are in fact real.
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==Gallery==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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Image:Rainbow Lorikeets feeding on Umbrella Tree.jpg|[[Rainbow Lorikeet]]s feeding on Umbrella Tree
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Image:Octopus Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) trunk at Hyderabad, AP W 286.jpg|trunk in [[Hyderabad, India]].
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Image:Octopus Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) leaves at Hyderabad, AP W 285.jpg|leaves  in  [[Hyderabad, India]].
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Image:Octopus Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) canopy at Hyderabad, AP W 281.jpg|canopy in [[Hyderabad, India]].
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</gallery>
    
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
    
==External links==
 
==External links==
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*[http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/schefflera_actinophylla.htm Contains many images of Umbrella Tree]
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*{{wplink}}
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*[http://mgonline.com/schefflera.html Good general information]
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*[http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Schefflera~actinophylla Detailed description]
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[[Category:Flora of Queensland]]
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{{stub}}
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[[Category:Trees]]
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__NOTOC__
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[[Category:Araliaceae]]
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{{Commons|Schefflera actinophylla}}
 
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