Common name: Pencil Cedar, Umbrella Tree, White Basswood, Pencilwood
Polyscias murrayi (F.Muell.) Harms APNI* Synonyms: Tieghemopanax murrayi (F.Muell.) Harms APNI*
Tieghemopanax murrayi (F.Muell.) Harms APNI*
Description: Sparingly branched tree to 24 m high, glabrous.
Leaves 1-pinnate, to 1.3 m long with 11–17 pairs of leaflets; leaflets narrow-ovate to elliptic, 6–16 cm long, 3–9 cm wide, apex acute to acuminate, base truncate or shortly attenuate and often asymmetric, margins minutely toothed, not aromatic when crushed; petiole U-shaped in cross section.
Inflorescence a large compound panicle with umbels of flowers arranged more or less racemosely along the branches, covered with minute simple hairs. Calyx with 5 small teeth. Petals cream to light green. Ovary 2- or 3-locular.
Fruit sub-globose, c. 4 mm long, purple-blue when ripe.
Flowering: March–April
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on rainforest margins on shaley or basaltic soils, common species in disturbed rainforest; widespread in coastal districts.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT
Other Australian states: Qld
Text by M. J. Henwood & R. O. Makinson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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