THAI FOREST BULL., BOT. 49(1): 151–154. 2021.

DOI https://doi.org/10.20531/tfb.2021.49.1.19

Schefflera (Araliaceae) in Thailand becomes Heptapleurum

HANS-JOACHIM ESSER1

ABSTRACT
Following recent studies showing that Asian Schefflera should be treated under the separate genus Heptapleurum, the names for the
Thai species belonging to this genus are listed. Two new combinations are proposed for S. bengalensis and S. poomae. For two species
of Schefflera recognized, S. pueckleri and S. simulans, different epithets must be used under Heptapleurum, namely H. calyptratum
and H. affine.

KEYWORDS: Flora of Thailand, new combinations, phylogeny, re-arrangement.

Accepted for publication: 9 June 2021. Published online: 17 June 2021

INTRODUCTION Heptapleurum is the largest one of the re-

instated genera. Lowry & Plunkett (2020) provided
Schefflera J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. has been
a comprehensive synonymy for the generic names
considered as a pantropical genus with 600–1,000
and listed 317 Asian species. These were formally
species since the late 1960s. Prior to that, various
transferred to the newly resurrected Heptapleurum
separate genera with digitately compound leaves
by Lowry & Plunkett (2020; see also Plunkett et al.,
had been recognized, later synonymized under an
2020); for many of them they provided new combi-
enlarged Schefflera s.l. (these generic names relevant
nations, with the taxonomy based on the World
for Thailand are listed below). The concept of Schefflera
Checklist of Araliaceae (Frodin & Govaerts, 2004
s.l. was also used in the Flora of Thailand (Esser &
[‘2003’]) and the Flora of China (Shang & Lowry,
Jebb, 2019), where 21 species were enumerated for
2007).
the country. Nevertheless, it was also known that the
genus, in this circumscription, was not monophyletic, As an update to the Flora of Thailand, the species
but a revised classification had not been possible. names under the new genus are listed here following
Lowry & Plunket (2020). For two species, new
Only recently have molecular phylogenetic
combinations are still needed, which are provided
studies provided detailed insights, enabling a
here. The 21 species and 1 variety recognized by
realignment of the generic level classification within
Esser & Jebb (2019) remain, but a different species
Schefflera s.l. The name of Schefflera, with the type
epithet must be used under Heptapleurum for two
S. digitata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst., is now restricted
species for nomenclatural reasons.
to eight species from the Pacific Islands. Species of
the former enlarged Schefflera are now classified in
ten distinct genera. These are, in addition to Schefflera TAXONOMY
s.s., Astropanax Seem. and Neocussonia (Harms) Heptapleurum Gaertn., Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 472.
Hutch. in Africa, Plerandra A.Gray in Melanesia, 1791; Seem., J. Bot. 3: 75. 1865; Benth. in Benth.
Cephalopanax G.M.Plunkett, Lowry & D.A.Neill, & Hook.f., Gen. Pl. 1: 942. 1867; Kurz, Forest Fl.
Crepinella Marchal, Didymopanax Decne. & Planch., Burma 1: 538. 1877; C.B.Clarke in Hook.f., Fl. Brit.
Frodinia Lowry & G.M.Plunkett and Sciodaphyllum India 2: 727. 1879; King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt.
P.Browne in the Neotropics, and Heptapleurum 2, Nat. Hist. 67: 47. 1898; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
Gaertn. in Asia. Therefore, all Asian species are still Novon 28: 144. 2020. Type: Heptapleurum stellatum
classified under a single, monophyletic genus. Gaertn.

1
Botanische Staatssammlung München, Menzinger Str. 67, 80638 München, Germany; email: [email protected]

© 2021 Forest Herbarium

152 THAI FOREST BULLETIN (BOTANY) VOL. 49 NO. 1

— Aralia L. sect. Paratropia Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Heptapleurum bengalense (Gamble) Esser, comb.
Ind.: 873. 1826.— Paratropia (Blume) DC., Prodr. nov.— Schefflera bengalensis Gamble, Bull. Misc.
4: 265. 1830. Lectotype (designated by Lowry & Inform. Kew 1919: 229. 1919; Craib, Fl. Siam. 1: 796.
Plunkett, 2020): Aralia rigida Blume [= Heptapleurum 1931; Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 224. 2019.
rigidum (Blume) Hassk.]. — Schefflera clarkeana Craib, Fl. Siam. 1: 797.
— Brassaia Endl., Nov. Stirp. Dec. 1: 89. 1839.— 1931, pro parte quoad typus.— Heptapleurum
Schefflera J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. sect. Brassaia clarkeanum (Craib) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, Novon
(Endl.) C.J.Tseng & G.Hoo, Acta Phytotax. Sin., 28: 150. 2020.
Addit. 1: 133. 1965. Type: Brassaia actinophylla
Note.— This species is part of a complex of
Endl. [= Heptapleurum actinophyllum (Endl.) Lowry
several similar species. Lowry & Plunkett (2020)
& G.M.Plunkett].
had implicitly considered Schefflera bengalensis as
— Tupidanthus Hook.f. & Thomson, Bot. Mag. 82: a synonym of Heptapleurum ellipticum, although
t. 4908. 1856. Type: Tupidanthus calyptratus Hook.f. they cited only selected synonyms. When treated as
& Thomson [= Heptapleurum calyptratum (Hook.f. a separate species as in the Flora of Thailand, a new
& Thomson) Y.F.Deng]. combination under Heptapleurum is required.
— Scheffleropsis Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 888.
1922. Type: Scheffleropsis polyandra (Ridl.) Ridl. Heptapleurum calyptratum (Hook.f. & Thomson)
[= Heptapleurum polyandrum (Ridl.) G.M.Plunkett Y.F.Deng, Med. Fl. China 7: 469. 2018; Lowry &
& Lowry]. G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 149. 2020.— Tupidanthus
— Schefflera auct. non J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.: Ridl., calyptratus Hook.f. & Thomson, Bot. Mag. 82: t.
Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 873. 1922; Craib, Fl. Siam. 1: 4908. 1856 [non Schefflera calyptrata Merr.,
796. 1931; Esser & Jebb, Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) Philipp. J. Sc., Bot. 13: 101. 1918].
38: 162. 2010; Fl. Thailand 14(2): 221. 2019. — Tupidanthus pueckleri K.Koch, Wochenschr.
Gärtnerei Pflanzenk. 2: 348. 1859.— Schefflera
Heptapleurum actinophyllum (Endl.) Lowry & pueckleri (K.Koch) Frodin in Whitmore, Tree Fl.
G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 146. 2020.— Brassaia Malaya 3: 31. 1978 (misapplied for S. subintegra);
actinophylla Endl., Nov. Stirp. Dec. 1: 89. 1839.— Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 239. 2019.
Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) Harms in Engl. & Note.— Tupidanthus calyptratus Hook.f. &
Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3.8: 36. 1894; Esser & Thomson is the oldest available name, but the com-
Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 224. 2019. bination under Schefflera was preoccupied by the
name of a different species, so that then the second-
Heptapleurum affine King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, oldest name, based on T. pueckleri K.Koch, had to
Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 67: 54. 1898; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, be used, which was done for the Flora of Thailand.
Novon 28: 146. 2020.— Schefflera affinis (King)
R.Vig., Ann. Sci. Nat., Sér. 9, Bot. 9: 354. 1909, Heptapleurum cephalotes C.B.Clarke in Hook.f.,
nom. illeg. [non Schefflera affinis Baill., Adansonia Fl. Brit. India 2: 731. 1879; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
12: 141. 1878]. Novon 28: 149. 2020.— Schefflera cephalotes
— Schefflera simulans Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. (C.B.Clarke) Harms in Engl. & Prantl, Nat.
Kew 1930: 421. 1930; Fl. Siam. 1: 801. 1931; Esser Pflanzenfam. 3.8: 36. 1894; Esser & Jebb, Fl.
& Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 241. 2019. Thailand 14(2): 225. 2019.
Note.— When treated under Schefflera, the
oldest legitimate name is S. simulans, as used in the Heptapleurum cuneatum (Craib) Lowry &
Flora of Thailand. Heptapleurum affine is however G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 151. 2020.— Schefflera
oldest and valid under this genus. cuneata Craib, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1930: 420.
1930; Fl. Siam. 1: 798. 1931; Esser & Jebb, Fl.
Thailand 14(2): 226. 2019.
 SCHEFFLERA (ARALIACEAE) IN THAILAND BECOMES HEPTAPLEURUM (H.-J. ESSER)
153

Heptapleurum ellipticum (Blume) Seem., J. Bot. Regni Veg. 16: 246. 1919; Esser & Jebb, Fl.
3: 78. 1865; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: Thailand 14(2): 231, fig. 5. 2019.
150. 2020.— Sciodaphyllum ellipticum Blume,
Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 878. 1826.— Schefflera elliptica
Heptapleurum lakhonense (C.B.Shang) Lowry
(Blume) Harms in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam.
& G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 156. 2020.— Schefflera
3.8: 39. 1894; Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2):
lakhonensis C.B.Shang, Candollea 39: 467, fig. 2
224. 2019.— Paratropia elliptica (Blume) Miq.,
g–k. 1984; Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 232.
Bonplandia 4: 138. 01 May 1856; Fl. Ned. Ind. 1.1:
2019.
75. 10 July 1856.

Heptapleurum leucanthum (R.Vig.) Y.F.Deng,

Heptapleurum heptaphyllum (L.) Y.F.Deng, Med.
Med. Fl. China 7: 472. 2018; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
Fl. China 7: 484. 2018; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
Novon 28: 157. 2020.— Schefflera leucantha R.Vig.,
Novon 28: 154. 2020.— Vitis heptaphylla L.,
Ann. Sci. Nat., Sér. 9, Bot. 9: 358. 1909; Esser &
Mant. Pl. 2: 212. 1771.— Schefflera heptaphylla
Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 234. 2019.
(L.) Frodin, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 104: 314, fig. 1. 1991
(‘1990’); in Frodin & Govaerts, World Checkl.
Bibliogr. Araliac.: 343. 2004 (‘2003’); Esser & Heptapleurum luridum King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal,
Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 228. 2019. Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 67: 48. 1898; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
Novon 28: 158. 2020.— Schefflera lurida (King)
Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. 1: 875. 1922; Esser & Jebb,
Heptapleurum heterophyllum (Wall. ex G.Don)
Fl. Thailand 14(2): 235. 2019.
Seem., J. Bot. 3: 77. 1865; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
Novon 28: 154. 2020.— Hedera heterophylla Wall.
(Numer. List: no. 4919. 1831–1832, nom. nud.) ex Heptapleurum oxyphyllum (Miq.) Seem., J. Bot.
G.Don, Gen. Hist. 3: 394. 1834.— Schefflera hetero- 3: 80. 1865; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28:
phylla (Wall. ex G.Don) Harms in Engl. & Prantl, 161. 2020.— Paratropia oxyphylla Miq., Fl. Ind.
Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3.8: 38. 1894; Esser & Jebb, Fl. Bat. Suppl. 1: 338. 1861.— Schefflera oxyphylla
Thailand 14(2): 229. 2019. (Miq.) R.Vig., Ann. Sci. Nat., Sér. 9, Bot. 9: 355.
1909; Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 235. 2019.
— Heptapleurum biternatum C.B.Clarke in Hook.f.,
Fl. Brit. India 2: 731. 1879.— Schefflera biternata
(C.B.Clarke) Harms in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Heptapleurum oxyphyllum var. siamense (Craib)
Pflanzenfam. 3.8: 38. 1894; Ridl., Fl. Malay Penins. Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 161. 2020.—
1: 881. 1922; Frodin in Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya Schefflera coronae-sylvae R.Vig. var. siamensis
3: 28. 1978.— S. heterophylla var. biternata Craib, Fl. Siam. 1: 797. 1931.— S. oxyphylla (Miq.)
(C.B.Clarke) Frodin in Frodin & Govaerts, World R.Vig. var. siamensis (Craib) Frodin in Frodin &
Checkl. Bibliogr. Araliac.: 345. 2004 (‘2003’).— Govaerts, World Checkl. Bibliogr. Araliac.: 362.
Heptapleurum heterophyllum var. biternatum 2004 (‘2003’); Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2):
(C.B.Clarke) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 235. 2019.
154. 2020.
Heptapleurum petelotii (Merr.) Lowry &
Heptapleurum hulletii King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 162. 2020.— Schefflera
Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 67: 54. 1898; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett, petelotii Merr., Univ. Calif. Publ. Bot. 10(9): 428.
Novon 28: 155. 2020.— Schefflera hullettii (King) 1924; Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2) : 239. 2019.
R.Vig., Ann. Sci. Nat., Sér. 9, Bot. 9: 353. 1909;
Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 231. 2019. Heptapleurum poomae (Esser & Jebb) Esser,
comb. nov.— Schefflera poomae Esser & Jebb,
Heptapleurum hypoleucoides (Harms) Lowry & Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 38: 162, figs. 1, 2. 2010; Fl.
G.M.Plunkett, Novon 28: 155. 2020.— Schefflera Thailand 14(2): 237, fig. 6. 2019.
hypoleucoides Harms, Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov.
154 THAI FOREST BULLETIN (BOTANY) VOL. 49 NO. 1

Note.— This name had been overlooked by Heptapleurum wrayi King, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal,
Lowry & Plunkett (2020), not being included in the Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 67: 55. 1898; Lowry & G.M.Plunkett,
World Checklist of Araliaceae nor in the Flora of Novon 28: 169. 2020.— Schefflera wrayi (King)
China. R.Vig., Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot. sér. 9, 9: 333. 1909;
Esser & Jebb, Fl. Thailand 14(2): 243. 2019.
Heptapleurum schizophyllum Hance, J. Bot. 15:
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