Common name: Elderberry Panax, Ornamental Ash, Elderberry Ash
Polyscias sambucifolia (Sieber ex DC.) Harms APNI* Synonyms: Polyscias sambucifolius orth. var. Harms APNI*
Tieghemopanax sambucifolius (Sieber ex DC.) R.Vig. APNI*
Tieghemopanax sambucifolius (Sieber ex DC.) R.Vig. APNI*
Panax sambucifolius Sieber ex DC. APNI*
Panax sambucifolius Sieber ex DC. APNI*
Description: Much-branched, often root-suckering shrub or small tree to 5 m high; glabrescent.
Leaves variable in form, 1- or 2-pinnate or rarely 3-pinnate, with 2–10 pairs of sessile or petiolulate leaflets, major leaflets and secondary rachises sometimes subtended by stipels, petiolules up to 2.5 cm long; sessile.
Inflorescence a compound panicle or rarely a simple umbel, umbels terminating all inflorescence branches. Flowers bisexual or male. Calyx a rim with 5 minute teeth. Petals 5, cream to light green or greenish yellow, sometimes united apically. Ovary 2- or 3-locular.
Fruit globose, c. 4 mm long, translucent steely blue when ripe, edible.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows commonly on disturbed sites in wet or dry sclerophyll forest, in or on the margins of most types of rainforest; widespread on the coast and ranges.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST
Other Australian states: Qld Vic.
Text by M. J. Henwood & R. O. Makinson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
| | Key to the subspecies | |
| 1 | Leaves 1-pinnate | 2 |
| Leaves 2-pinnate or rarely 3-pinnate. | subsp. Bipinnate leaves (J.H.Ross 3967) Vic. Herbarium |
| 2 | Leaves with ± 5 pairs of leaflets; leaflets usually 4–9 cm long and 20–60 mm wide, rarely smaller. Small tree or shrub to 5 m high. Leaves 1-pinnate, 5–30 cm long; leaflets commonly petiolulate, occasionally subtended by a stipel, ovate or elliptic to broad-elliptic, margins ± toothed. Inflorescence commonly branched to third order | subsp. Long leaflets (P.G.Neish 208) Vic. Herbarium |
| Leaves with ± 6 pairs of leaflets; leaflets usually 20–40 mm long and 3–7 mm wide, rarely to 70 mm long and 20 mm wide. Densely branched shrub rarely exceeding 1.5 m high. Leaves 6–30 cm long; leaflets sessile (or rarely petiolulate); without stipels, oblong-linear and occasionally slightly falcate, margins entire or rarely lobed. Inflorescence with first order branching only, or rarely with second order branching
Back to 1 | subsp. Short leaflets (V.Stajsic 196) Vic. Herbarium |
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***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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