This species is very closely related to, and indistinguishable from, Polyscias kikuyuensis except when in flower[].

Common Name:

General Information

Polyscias fulva is a deciduous to evergreen tree with a narrow, umbrella-shaped crown; it can grow 25 - 30 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole is unbranched for most of its height, up to 100cm in diameter and free of buttresses[, , ].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for mainly local use - the wood is particularly valued for carving, handicrafts and making drums, whilst the tree also has traditional medicinal uses. It is also used as a pioneer in reforestation projects and is grown as an ornamental[, ].
Polyscias fulva has a very wide distribution area, but it is uncommon in several regions, such as West Africa. In Kenya it has been reported as becoming rare in its natural habitat. This is also locally the case in Cameroon and Uganda, where the species has been overexploited for the production of handicrafts. Monitoring of populations in such regions where it is under pressure because of timber harvesting is recommended, but generally the tree is not yet subject to serious genetic erosion[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Sierra Leone to Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen; south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique

Habitat

Mainly found in mountain forests into the bamboo zone, often in clearings and regrowth. It also occurs in rainforests, lowland forests, riverine forests and mountain grasslands, frequently being left standing when forest is cleared for cultivation[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees, Flies
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from 750 - 2,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 18 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 2,500mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Prefers a well-drained, sandy to loamy soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].
A fast-growing tree[]. In plantations in Cameroon seedlings reached a height of 2 - 3 metres after 4 years and 15 metres, with a bole diameter of 20 - 40cm after 20 years[].
The plant is sensitive to fire, but may recover by producing sprouts and suckers[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion or decoction of the bark is taken for the treatment of fever and malaria, as an enema to treat colic, and as a purgative[]. The bark is used in mixtures with other plants to treat epilepsy[].
A maceration of the bark is applied as drops to the nostrils to treat mental illness[]. The pulverized bark is snuffed as an anodyne, and also to treat coughs, haemoptysis and tuberculosis[].

A decoction of the leaves is taken to treat intestinal complaints including those caused by parasites[]. The pounded leaves are used in the treatment of peptic ulcers[].
The pounded leaves are applied externally to treat fractures[].

Some triterpene glycosides have been isolated from the stem bark. One of these, alpha-hederin, showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing tree that is a natural pioneer within its native range[]. It can be useful in re-establishing native woodland[].
The leaf fall provides a good mulch, with the soil under the tree being quite fertile[, ]. The high crown lets in sunlight, making the tree suitable for intercropping with crops such as banana, coffee or cocoa[, ].
It is planted in living fences[].
The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen for honey bees[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is whitish to pale yellow-brown; it is indistinctly demarcated from the sapwood. The grain is usually straight; texture moderately fine to rather coarse; the wood has no distinct smell. The wood is light in weight, soft, brittle and not durable, being susceptible to attacks by fungi such as blue stain and brown and white rot, but it is easy to treat with preservatives.. It is fairly easy to air dry, but splitting and ring shaking may occur. It is easy to saw and work, but often planes to a rather woolly surface; it is liable to splitting upon nailing and screwing, but glues well. The wood is used for interior joinery, doors, utensils, musical instruments, containers, boxes, crates, beehives, carvings, matches, veneer and plywood. It is valued for carving to make handicrafts and masks, and also for making drums[, ].
The wood is used for fuel, although it is of low quality[, ].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed in partial shade. Germination rates are usually good, with up to 75% of the seed sprouting within 5 - 7 weeks. Seedlings are gradually exposed to the sun and can be transplanted from the nursery into the field after 4 - 6 months[].
Fruits can best be collected from the trees as soon as they have become purplish black, but they are sometimes also collected from the ground. They should be dried in the shade for 1 - 2 days. Then the fruits should be soaked in water for 4 - 6 hours and the seeds squeezed out; they float in the water. After drying the seeds in the shade, they can be stored for up to 2 years, preferably at 3°c and 7 - 10% moisture content[].
Cuttings[].

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