Heptapleurum arboricola Hayata

Growth Form

Heptapleurum arboricola Hayata is an evergreen shrub that grows 8 to 9 meters tall. It can grow as a free-standing plant or cling to the trunks of other trees as an epiphyte.

Leaf Arrangement

Its leaves are palmately compound, with 7 to 9 leaflets per leaf.

Leaflet Size

Mature leaflets measure 9 to 20 centimeters long and 4 to 10 centimeters wide, and are often smaller when the plant is grown in cultivation.

Leaflet Shape

Each leaflet has a wedge-shaped base, smooth entire margin, and an obtuse or acute apex that is sometimes emarginate.

Leaflet Texture and Color

Leaflets are leathery in texture; the upper surface is shiny green and glabrous, while the underside is somewhat lighter and matte. Young plants produce smaller leaves with fewer leaflets.

Leaflet Venation

Each leaflet has a central midrib that splits it into two halves, with between four and six additional orders of veins clearly visible up to the third order.

Stipule and Petiole

Stipules merge with the petiole, which is 12 to 15 centimeters long.

Native and Introduced Range

This species is native to Taiwan, and has been introduced to the Ryukyu Islands, Hawaii, Florida, Bermuda, and Jamaica.

Toxic Compounds

All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, saponins, and terpenoids.

Toxicity to Pets

These toxic compounds act as irritants for cats and dogs, causing swelling that can sometimes lead to breathing difficulties, mouth burning, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, diarrhoea, and itching.

Toxicity to Humans

For humans, the plant is a low-severity poison and a skin irritant that can cause contact dermatitis.

Cultivation as Houseplant

Heptapleurum arboricola is commonly grown as a houseplant, popular because it tolerates neglect and poor growing conditions. It is also grown as a landscape garden plant in mild climates where frosts are not severe.

Cultivars

Many cultivars have been selected for variations in leaf color and pattern; they are often variegated with creamy-white to yellow edges or centers, and dwarf forms exist. The cultivar 'Gold Capella' has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.