Biology:Neopanax arboreus

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Short description: Species of tree


Five finger
PseudopanaxArboreus.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Genus: Neopanax
Species:
N. arboreus
Binomial name
Neopanax arboreus
(L.f.) Allan (1961)[2]
Synonyms[2]
  • Nothopanax arboreus (L.f.) Seem. (1866)
  • Panax arboreus L.f. (1782)
  • Panax australasius Pers. (1805), not validly publ.
  • Pseudopanax arboreus (L.f.) K.Koch (1859)

Neopanax arboreus or five finger (Māori: puahou or whauwhaupaku), is a New Zealand native tree belonging to the family Araliaceae. It is one of New Zealand's more common native trees, being found widely in bush, scrub and gardens throughout both islands. The compound leaves with five to seven leaflets, hence the common name, are very characteristic of the tree and easily recognized.

Closely related and very similar to five finger are N. laetus, N. colensoi, and N. macintyrei.

Description

Leaflets obovate-oblong to oblong-cuneate, thinly coriaceous, coarsely serrate-dentate. Flowers usually unisexual; inflorescences are compound umbels with 8-20 primary branchlets up to 10 cm long, 15-20 secondary rays, umbellules with 10-15 flowers in each. Calyx truncate or obscurely 5-toothed; flowers 5mm in diameter, sweet-scented; petals 5, white to pink flushed, ovate to triangular, acute; stamens 5; ovary 2-loculed, each containing 1(-2) ovules; style branches 2, spreading. Fruit fleshy, very dark purple, laterally compressed, 5–8 mm diam.; style branches retained on an apical disc. Seeds 2(-3) per fruit, wrinkled, 3–6 mm long.

Ecology

Neopanax arboreus is a host species for the caterpillar of the endemic North Island moth Declana atronivea.[3]

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2018). "Neopanax arboreus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T135793264A135793266. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T135793264A135793266.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/135793264/135793266. Retrieved 13 May 2023. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Neopanax arboreus (L.f.) Allan. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. Hudson, G. V. (1898) (in en). New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera). London: West, Newman & Co.. pp. 95–96. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.7912. https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7643653. Retrieved 6 February 2017. 

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