Plerandra elegantissima

Plerandra elegantissima
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Apiales
Family:	Araliaceae
Genus:	Plerandra
Species:	P. elegantissima
Binomial name
Plerandra elegantissima (H.J.Veitch ex Mast.) Lowry, G.M.Plunkett & Frodin
Synonyms [2]
Homotypic Synonyms Aralia elegantissimaH.J.Veitch ex Mast. Dizygotheca elegantissima(H.J.Veitch ex Mast.) R.Vig. & Guillaumin Schefflera elegantissima(H.J.Veitch ex Mast.) Lowry & Frodin Heterotypic Synonyms Dizygotheca faguetii(Baill.) R.Vig. Schefflera faguetiiBaill.

Plerandra elegantissima, the false aralia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae. ^{[2] [3]} It is native to New Caledonia. ^{[4] [5]}

Description

Growing to 8–15 m (26–49 ft) tall by 2 m (7 ft) broad, it is an evergreen shrub or tree. Its leaves are thin, coppery red to dark green with toothed edges and consist of 7-11 leaflets. On adult plants the leaves are much broader. In autumn it bears clusters of pale green flowers followed by black fruit.

Cultivation

With a minimum temperature of 13–15 °C (55–59 °F), in temperate zones it is grown as a houseplant and is much more compact, typically reaching heights of 2–3 m (7–10 ft). ^[6] In cultivation, it needs a lot of light and humidity. The soil should dry out between watering. This plant has little branching and is sensitive to the appearance of mealybugs.

Under the name Schefflera elegantissima, this plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. ^{[7] [8]}

References

1. Tanguy, V. (2015). "Plerandra elegantissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015 e.T68085757A68117853. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T68085757A68117853.en .{{cite iucn}}: uses deprecated |page= identifier (help)
2. "Plerandra elegantissima (H.J.Veitch ex Mast.) Lowry, G.M.Plunkett & Frodin". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
3. "Plerandra elegantissima (H.J.Veitch ex Mast.) Lowry, G.M.Plunkett & Frodin". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
4. "Taxon: Schefflera elegantissima (hort. Veitch ex Mast.) Lowry & Frodin". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Area. Archived from the original on 2009-05-08. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
5. Lowry II, P.P.; Plunkett, G.M.; Frodin, D.G. (2013). "Revision of Plerandra (Araliaceae). I. A synopsis of the genus with an expanded circumscription and a new infrageneric classification". Brittonia. 65 (1): 42–61. doi:10.1007/s12228-012-9260-2.
6. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN   978-1405332965.
7. "Schefflera elegantissima". RHS. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
8. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 95. Retrieved 5 November 2018.