180 Species of Genus Polyscias

My Fascination with the Polyscias Genus

Hi, I’m Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the intricate beauty of the plant world. Lately, I’ve become particularly fascinated by the Polyscias genus, a diverse group of evergreen shrubs and trees belonging to the Araliaceae family. These plants, with their captivating foliage and intriguing growth habits, have captured my attention and sparked a desire to learn more about their unique characteristics and diverse applications.

A Closer Look at Polyscias

Native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Pacific Islands, and Madagascar, Polyscias are renowned for their ornamental value. Their leaves, which vary greatly in shape, size, and color, are the defining feature of this genus. From deeply lobed and variegated patterns to delicate, fern-like fronds, Polyscias offer a stunning array of foliage that can add a touch of elegance and intrigue to any indoor or outdoor space.

But Polyscias are more than just aesthetically pleasing plants. In many cultures, they hold significant cultural and medicinal value. Some species are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, while others are considered symbols of good luck and prosperity. This blend of beauty and utility is what truly makes Polyscias stand out in the botanical world.

Exploring the Diversity of Polyscias

The Polyscias genus encompasses a wide variety of species, each with its own unique characteristics:

1. Polyscias aculeata (Decne. & Planch.) Harms
2. Polyscias acuminata (Wight) Seem.
3. Polyscias aemiliguineae Bernardi
4. Polyscias aequatoguineensis Lejoly & Lisowski
5. Polyscias aherniana (Merr.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
6. Polyscias albersiana Harms
7. Polyscias alternifolia (Maingay ex Ridl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
8. Polyscias amplifolia (Baker) Harms
9. Polyscias anacardium Bernardi
10. Polyscias andraerum Bernardi
11. Polyscias angustifolia (Ridl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
12. Polyscias ariadnes Bernardi
13. Polyscias ashtonii (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
14. Polyscias aubrevillei (Bernardi) Bernardi
15. Polyscias australiana (F.Muell.) Philipson
16. Polyscias baehniana (Bernardi) Bernardi
17. Polyscias balansae (Baill.) Harms
18. Polyscias balfouriana (André) L.H.Bailey
19. Polyscias baretiana Bernardi
20. Polyscias belensis Philipson
21. Polyscias bellendenkeriensis (F.M.Bailey) Philipson
22. Polyscias bernardiana Lowry & Callm.
23. Polyscias bernieri (Baill. ex Drake) R.Vig.
24. Polyscias biformis (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
25. Polyscias bipinnata (Gibbs) Philipson
26. Polyscias bisattenuata (Sherff) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
27. Polyscias boivinii (Seem.) Bernardi
28. Polyscias borbonica Marais
29. Polyscias borneensis Philipson
30. Polyscias botryophora Harms
31. Polyscias bracteata (R.Vig.) Lowry
32. Polyscias briquetiana (Bernardi) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
33. Polyscias carolorum Bernardi
34. Polyscias cenabrei (Merr.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
35. Polyscias chapelieri (Drake) Harms ex R.Vig.
36. Polyscias cissiflora (Baker) Harms
37. Polyscias cissodendron (C.Moore & F.Muell.) Harms
38. Polyscias collina (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
39. Polyscias compacta Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
40. Polyscias confertifolia (Baker) Harms
41. Polyscias coriacea Marais
42. Polyscias corticata Gibbs
43. Polyscias crassa (Hemsl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
44. Polyscias crenata (Pancher & Sebert) Frodin
45. Polyscias culminicola A.C.Sm.
46. Polyscias cumingiana (C.Presl) Fern.-Vill.
47. Polyscias cussonioides (Drake) Bernardi
48. Polyscias cutispongia (Lam.) Baker
49. Polyscias dichrostachya Baker
50. Polyscias dioica (Vieill. ex Pancher & Sebert) Harms
51. Polyscias diversifolia (Blume) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
52. Polyscias duplicata (Thouars ex Baill.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
53. Polyscias elegans (C.Moore & F.Muell.) Harms
54. Polyscias elliptica (Blume) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
55. Polyscias engganoense (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
56. Polyscias eupteronoides (Teijsm. & Binn.) Frodin
57. Polyscias farinosa (Delile) Harms
58. Polyscias felicis Bernardi
59. Polyscias filicifolia (C.Moore ex E.Fourn.) L.H.Bailey
60. Polyscias floccosa (Drake) Bernardi
61. Polyscias florosa Philipson
62. Polyscias flynnii (Lowry & K.R.Wood) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
63. Polyscias fraxinifolia (Baker) R.Vig.
64. Polyscias fruticosa (L.) Harms
65. Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms
66. Polyscias gracilis Marais
67. Polyscias gruschvitzkii Bernardi
68. Polyscias guilfoylei (W.Bull) L.H.Bailey
69. Polyscias gymnocarpa (Hillebr.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
70. Polyscias havilandii (Ridl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
71. Polyscias hawaiensis (A.Gray) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
72. Polyscias heineana Bernardi
73. Polyscias humbertiana (Bernardi) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
74. Polyscias jackiana (G.Don) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
75. Polyscias jacobsii Philipson
76. Polyscias javanica Koord. & Valeton
77. Polyscias joskei Gibbs
78. Polyscias kalabenonensis Lowry & Callm.
79. Polyscias kavaiensis (H.Mann) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
80. Polyscias kikuyuensis Summerh.
81. Polyscias kivuensis Bamps
82. Polyscias kjellbergii (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
83. Polyscias koordersii (Harms) Frodin
84. Polyscias lancifolia (Drake) R.Vig.
85. Polyscias lantzii (Drake) R.Vig.
86. Polyscias lanutoensis (Hochr.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
87. Polyscias leandriana (Bernardi) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
88. Polyscias lecardii (R.Vig.) Lowry
89. Polyscias ledermannii Harms
90. Polyscias letestui C.Norman
91. Polyscias lionnetii (F.Friedmann) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
92. Polyscias lydgatei (Hillebr.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
93. Polyscias macgillivrayi (Benth.) Harms
94. Polyscias mackeei Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
95. Polyscias macrantha (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
96. Polyscias macrocarpa (Philipson & Bui) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
97. Polyscias madagascariensis (Seem.) Harms
98. Polyscias maraisiana Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
99. Polyscias maralia (Schult.) Bernardi
100. Polyscias marchionensis (F.Br.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
101. Polyscias mauritiana Marais
102. Polyscias mayottensis Lowry, O.Pascal & Labat
103. Polyscias meliifolia (Craib) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
104. Polyscias microbotrys (Baill.) Harms
105. Polyscias mollis (Benth.) Harms
106. Polyscias montana (Ridl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
107. Polyscias multibracteata (Baker) Harms
108. Polyscias multijuga (A.Gray) Harms
109. Polyscias muraltana Bernardi
110. Polyscias murrayi (F.Muell.) Harms
111. Polyscias myrsine Bernardi
112. Polyscias neraudiana (Drake) Harms ex R.Vig.
113. Polyscias nodosa (Blume) Seem.
114. Polyscias nossibiensis (Drake) Harms
115. Polyscias oahuensis (A.Gray) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
116. Polyscias obtusifolia Frodin
117. Polyscias ornifolia (Baker) Harms
118. Polyscias otopyrena (Baill.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
119. Polyscias pachypedicellata Lowry & Callm.
120. Polyscias pacifica (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
121. Polyscias palmervandenbroekii Bernardi
122. Polyscias pancheri (Baill.) Harms
123. Polyscias paniculata (DC.) Baker
124. Polyscias papuana (Miq.) Seem.
125. Polyscias papyracea (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
126. Polyscias paucidens (Miq.) Frodin
127. Polyscias pentamera (Baker) Harms
128. Polyscias philippinensis (Merr.) Frodin
129. Polyscias philipsonii Bernardi
130. Polyscias pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
131. Polyscias pleiosperma (A.Gray) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
132. Polyscias prolifera (Philipson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
133. Polyscias pulgarensis (Elmer) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
134. Polyscias purpurea C.T.White
135. Polyscias quintasii Exell
136. Polyscias rainaliorum Bernardi
137. Polyscias reineckei Harms
138. Polyscias repanda (DC.) Baker
139. Polyscias revoluta Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
140. Polyscias richardsiae Bamps
141. Polyscias rivalsii Bernardi
142. Polyscias rodriguesiana (Marais) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
143. Polyscias roemeriana Harms
144. Polyscias royenii Philipson
145. Polyscias rubiginosa (Ridl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
146. Polyscias rufosepala (Ridl.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
147. Polyscias sambucifolia (Sieber ex DC.) Harms
148. Polyscias samoensis (A.Gray) Harms
149. Polyscias sandwicensis (A.Gray) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
150. Polyscias schmidii Lowry
151. Polyscias schultzei Harms
152. Polyscias scopoliae (Baill.) Lowry
153. Polyscias scutellaria (Burm.f.) Fosberg
154. Polyscias sechellarum Baker
155. Polyscias serratifolia (Miq.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
156. Polyscias sessiliflora Marais
157. Polyscias sleumeri Philipson
158. Polyscias solomonensis (Philipson) Frodin
159. Polyscias sorongensis Gibbs
160. Polyscias spectabilis (Harms) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
161. Polyscias stonei (A.-L.Lim) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
162. Polyscias stuhlmannii Harms
163. Polyscias subcapitata Kaneh.
164. Polyscias tafondroensis (Drake) R.Vig.
165. Polyscias tahitensis (Nadeaud) Harms
166. Polyscias terminalia Bernardi
167. Polyscias thailandica Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
168. Polyscias tripinnata Harms
169. Polyscias verrucosa (Seem.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
170. Polyscias verticillata B.C.Stone
171. Polyscias vieillardii (Baill.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
172. Polyscias vogelkopensis Philipson
173. Polyscias waialealae (Rock) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
174. Polyscias waimeae (Wawra) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett
175. Polyscias weinmanniae (Baill.) Harms
176. Polyscias willmottii (F.Muell.) Philipson
177. Polyscias winkleri (Harms) Frodin
178. Polyscias wohlhauseri Lowry & Callm.
179. Polyscias zanthoxyloides (Baker) Harms
180. Polyscias zippeliana (Miq.) Valeton

The Appeal of Polyscias

What draws me to Polyscias, aside from their obvious beauty, is their adaptability and resilience. Many species thrive in a variety of conditions, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor cultivation. They can tolerate low light conditions, making them ideal for homes and offices, and they can also withstand periods of drought, making them relatively low-maintenance plants.

Furthermore, Polyscias are relatively easy to propagate, allowing enthusiasts like myself to expand their collection and share their passion with others. Whether through stem cuttings or air layering, propagating Polyscias can be a rewarding experience that deepens one’s connection with these fascinating plants.

Beyond Ornamentation: The Cultural and Medicinal Significance of Polyscias

While Polyscias are primarily cultivated for their ornamental value, they also hold cultural and medicinal significance in various parts of the world. In some cultures, Polyscias are believed to bring good luck and prosperity, and are often used in traditional ceremonies and rituals.

In traditional medicine, certain Polyscias species are used for their therapeutic properties. For instance, Polyscias fruticosa is used in Southeast Asia to treat various ailments, including skin diseases, respiratory problems, and digestive disorders. Its leaves and roots are believed to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties.

My Journey with Polyscias

As I continue to explore the world of Polyscias, I’m constantly amazed by their diversity and adaptability. I’ve experimented with different species, learning about their unique care requirements and growth habits. I’ve also delved into the cultural and medicinal uses of these plants, gaining a deeper appreciation for their significance beyond their ornamental value.

My journey with Polyscias has been a rewarding experience, filled with discovery and wonder. These plants have not only enriched my understanding of the botanical world but have also brought a touch of natural beauty and tranquility into my life. I encourage anyone with an interest in plants to explore the fascinating world of Polyscias and discover the unique charm of these versatile and captivating plants.