Pseudopanax arboreus
Species of tree endemic to New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pseudopanax arboreus, commonly known as five finger, five-finger or fivefinger (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 name "five finger", are very characteristic of the tree and easily recognized.
| Pseudopanax arboreus | |
|---|---|
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| Pseudopanax arboreus in Christchurch Botanical Gardens | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Genus: | Pseudopanax |
| Species: | P. arboreus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudopanax arboreus (L.f.) K.Koch (1859) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Closely related and very similar to five finger are P. laetus, P. colensoi, and P. 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 centimetres (3.9 inches) 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
Pseudopanax arboreus is a host species for the caterpillar of the endemic North Island moth Declana atronivea.[3] Pseudopanax arboreus is ranked one of New Zealand's least flammable tree species.[4]
