Polyscias balfouriana

• Botanical Name : Polyscias balfouriana (Andre) L. H. Bailey

• The name Polyscias means many-shaded, in reference to the foliage found on these plants. The generic name comes from the combination of the Greek words 'poly' meaning much and 'skia' meaning shade which refers to the thick foliage. The specific name is given in the honour of an English botanist John Hutton Balfour.

• Synonyms : Aralia balfouriana Andre.
• Common Name : Balfour Aralia, Dinner Plate Aralia, Plate Aralia
• Plant Family : Araliaceae
• Plant Form : Shrub
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation, Indroda Park, Van Chetana Kendra

About Polyscias balfouriana Plant :

• Habit : A compact and bushy shrub with bronze-green, grey speckled stem.
• Leaves : Petiolate, long, slender petiole, trifoliate with long stalk, orbicular or reniform, cordate at the base, coarsely indented or crenate margin.
• Inflorescence and Flowers :
  • Inflorescence is terminal, erect, panicle-type having greenish flowers arranged in umbels.
  • Terminal umbels are bisexuals whereas the lateral ones are males.
• Fruit : Globose
• Significance : Generally cultivated in the gardens as an ornamental plant.