Schefflera caudata (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Schefflera caudata (S. Vidal) Merr. & Rolfe

Protologue: Philipp. Journ. Sci. 3, Bot.: 118 (1908).

Synonyms

• Heptapleurum caudatum S. Vidal (1885),
• Schefflera acuminatissima Merr. (1906),
• Schefflera piperoidea Elmer (1908).

Vernacular names

• Philippines: himainat (Filipino), lima-lima (Tagalog, Bisaya).

Distribution

The Philippines (Luzon).

Uses

A decoction of S. caudata is given as a tonic to women after childbirth.

Observations

• An epiphytic vine.
• Leaves few, crowded towards the ends of twigs, 3-foliolate, leaflets elliptical, over 15 cm long, pointed at both ends.
• Inflorescence terminal, with 1-5 main branches along which the rounded umbellules are racemosely displayed.

The formerly recognized species S. piperoidea is now regarded as a variety: S. caudata var. piperoidea (Elmer) Frodin. S. caudata is found in primary forest at low to medium altitude.

Selected sources

• [190] Brown, W.H., 1951-1957. Useful plants of the Philippines. Reprint of the 1941-1943 edition. 3 volumes. Technical Bulletin 10. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines. Vol. 1 (1951) 590 pp., Vol. 2 (1954) 513 pp., Vol. 3 (1957) 507 pp.
• [935] Merrill, E.D., 1923-1926. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. 4 volumes. Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines.
• [936] Merrill, E.D. & Rolfe, R.A., 1908. Notes on Philippine Botany. The Philippine Journal of Science 3, sect. C, Botany: 95-127.
• [1178] Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.

Main genus page

• Schefflera (Medicinal plants)

Authors

• Nguyen Tap & M.S.M. Sosef