Several recent phylogenetic studies have shown that Schefflera is clearly polyphyletic, and that the Asian species belong to a single, well-supported, morphologically coherent clade. The name Schefflera will ultimately have to be restricted to a small group of species from the SW Pacific, while the Asian species will have to be transferred to one or more other genera[].

Common Name:

General Information

Schefflera macrocarpa is a semideciduous tree with a perfectly roundish crown; it can grow 4 - 6 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 20 - 35cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - central and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Savannah and savannah woodland, growing in both primary and secondary formations, favouring poor, clayey, well-drained soils[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Found in poor quality, well-drained, clayey soils in the wild[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is medium-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, soft, with poor mechanical properties, not durable and subject to the attacks of wood-eating organisms. It is only used for items such as boxes, toys, spools, door and panel fillings[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Sow the seed in a sunny position in a nursery seedbed. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 42 - 56 days[].

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