Facts about Umbrella Tree
Umbrella tree may mean one of the following:
- Schefflera actinophylla
- Magnolia tripetala
- Terminalia catappa
- Musanga cecropioides
- Polyscias murrayi
Schefflera actinophylla is a tree in the Araliaceae family. It is also called as the Octopus tree. The tropical rainforests in Australia (eastern Queensland and the Northern territory), Java and New Guinea abound with these species. The tree can grow upto 15 meters. It is evergreen and has compound medium green leaves in clusters of seven. This tree depends on mechanical support on other rainforest trees. The tree is multi-trunked and flowers exist at the treetop. Inflorescences having a length of 2 meters and enclosing almost 1000 small dull red flowers are part of the tree. This flowering starts in early summer and continues for many further months. The flowers create a large quantity of nectar. This entices honey-eating birds. The fruits of this tree are devoured by several birds and animals like Musky Rat Kangaroos, Red-legged Pademelons and Spectacled Flying Foxes. The Bennett's Tree-Kangaroo likes to consume the leaves. Magnolia tripetala can be categorized as a deciduous tree. It is found in the Appalachian mountains in the southeastern United States. The large shiny leaves are 30-50 cm in length and the stems are stout. In autumn, the leaves become yellow. The tree can grow to a height of 15 meters. The flowers are 15-25 cm in diameter. These have a large red style and 6-9 creamy-white petals. The fruit is red and 10 cm in length. This has many red seeds. Terminalia catappa is a large tropical tree and may have originated in India, Malay peninsula or New Guinea. It is also called as the Indian almond, Bengal almond, Malabar almond, Tropical almond, Sea almond or Singapore almond. This tree can grow to a height of 35 meters. When full grown, it has an upright, symmetrical crown and horizontal branches. As it ages, the crown flattens to have a spreading, vase finish. The leaves are 15-25 cm in length and 10-14 cm in breadth. They are leathery, glossy dark green, ovoid and broad. The color becomes pinkish-reddish or yellow-brown just before falling. The flowers are 1 cm in diameter, white to greenish and are seen on axillary or terminal spikes. The fruit is 5-7 cm in length and 3-5.5 cm in breadth. Its color changes from green to yellow to red. It contains a single seed. The Musanga cecropioides is the African Corkwood tree found in secondary forests. It is also called as the Parasolier, Doe, kombo-kombo, musanda, N'Govoge, musanga and Govwi. This tree is generally found in Africa from Sierra Leone to Angola and eastward to Uganda.
Umbrella Plant
This term may mean one of the following:
- Darmera peltata
- Podophyllum peltatum
- Cyperus alternifolius
- Schefflera arboricola
- Eriogonum longifolium
Darmera peltata is also called as Indian rhubarb. In late spring, the flowers bloom before the leaves. These flowers have rounded cymes of many five-petalled white to bright pink flowers. The leaves are coarsely-toothed, deeply lobed, rounded, dark green and conspicuously veined. These become red in autumn. Podophyllum peltatum is found in the eastern part of North America. The stems are 30-40 cm tall. The leaves are 20-30 cm in diameter with 5-9 deeply cut lobes. This tree is also called as the mayapple, Hogapple, wild lemon, American mandrake, Devil's apple, Indian apple or wild mandrake. Cyperus alternifolius is found in Madagascar. Schefflera arboricola is an evergreen shrub. It may grow to a height of 3-4 meters. The leaves have 7-9 leaflets. Each leaflet is 9-20 cm long and 4-10 cm broad. The umbels are 7-10 mm in diameter and have 5-10 flowers. Eriogonum longifolium is also called Harper's umbrella plant or Harper's buckwheat. For a long period it remains in an immature stage and eventually develops a flowering stalk. Then, it flowers and perishes. Tennessee and Kentucky are the areas where its survival is doubted.
