Schefflera taiwaniana (Nakai) Kanehira, Araliaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 1 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Agalma taiwanianum Nakai

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Taiwan dwarf umbrella tree

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Trees, to 2-4 m tall, probably andromonoecious.  Petiole 10-25cm, petiolules 1-3 cm; leaflets 4-9, narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong, (5-) 10-15 x (1.5-) 2.5-5 cm, papery, both surfaces glabrous, secondary veins 5-7 pairs, nearly obscure, base narrowly acute, margin entire, apex acuminate.  Inflorescence a terminal panicle of racemes, sparsely stellate pubescent, glabrescent; primary axis to 25 (-30) cm; secondary axes often present only in basal portion of primary axis, to 10 cm; pedicels 5-6 mm.  Calyx glabrous, inconspicuous 6-toothed.  Ovary 6-carpellate; styles united into a column.  Fruit globose, 5-7 mm in diameter, style persistent, 1-2 mm" (Flora of China 13:458).

Habitat/ecology:  In Taiwan (native), "scattered in coniferous forests, 2000-2900 m" (Flora of China 13:458).  In Hawai‘i, planted in the Lyon Arboretum, O‘ahu.  "Epiphytic seedlings were found in the vicinity of the planted specimens, indicated that the species is being spread by birds, and suitable microhabitats are available for establishment.  Considering the similarities with Schefflera actinophylla, which has become abundantly naturalized as an epiphyte, it would appear that S. taiwaniana has strong potential to become naturalized"  (Daehler & Baker, 2006; p. 13).

Propagation:  Bird-dispersed seed (Daehler & Baker, 2006; p. 13).

Native range:  Taiwan (Flora of China 13:458).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Daehler, Curtis C./Baker, Raymond F. (2006) (p. 13) Voucher cited: C. Daehler 1202 (BISH).
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 68)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Taiwan Taiwan	Taiwan Island	native	Harvard University (2007) (p. 13:458)

Additional information:  Additional online information about Schefflera taiwaniana is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Schefflera taiwaniana may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Daehler, Curtis C./Baker, Raymond F. 2006. New records of naturalized and naturalizing plants around Lyon Arboretum, Mānoa Valley, O‘ahu. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucias G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2004-2005. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 87:3-18.

Harvard University. 2007. Flora of China (online resource).

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.