Umbell tree schefflera
Schefflera aromatica

Family: Araliaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It is crooked and has many branches. It grows 5-12 m high. The branches are thick and covered with dense hairs when young. The leaves are alternate and have long leaf stalks. They have 5-7 leaflets arranged like fingers on a hand. The leaflets have long stalks. They are narrowly oval. The flowering stalks can be in the axils of leaves or at the top of the plant. They have 10-20 flowered groups. The flowers are yellowish green. The fruit are round and have 4-8 seeds.

There are about 200 Schefflera species. They are mostly in Central America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropical forests and near water. It grows from 500 m above sea level to the tops of mountains in Java. It grows up to 2,250 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia (country/location of origin), SE Asia

How it is used for food

The young leaves and roots are used to flavour food.

Edible parts

Leaves, roots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It is mostly grown by cuttings. It is grown as a hedge.

Its other names

Local names

Keepooyooh, Klanting, Panggang pooyooh, Sahang, Saraban

Synonyms

Agalma aromaticum (Blume) Seem.; Agalma horsfieldii (Miq.) Seem.; Aralia aromatica (Blume) Blume; Hedera aromatica Blume; Heptapleurum aromaticum (Blume) Boerl.; Heptapleurum confine (Miq.) Seem.; Heptapleurum horsfieldii (Miq.) Boerl.; Paratropia aromatica (Blume) Miq.; Paratropia confinis Miq.; Paratropia horsfieldii Miq.; Schefflera confinis (Miq.) R. Vig.; Schefflera horsfieldii (Miq.) Harms;