About Polyscias elegans (C.Moore & F.Muell.) Harms
Polyscias elegans is a fast-growing, medium-sized tree that forms an attractive palm-like or umbrella-shaped crown. Mature trees reach up to 30 meters in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 75 cm. The trunk is mostly straight, cylindrical, and unbuttressed. Young trees have smooth bark, while larger trees develop fissured, scaly, rough bark. Its leaves are large, and can be pinnate or bi-pinnate, with almost opposite leaflets that often grow in groups of three. Leaflets are ovate in shape with a pointed tip, measuring 5 to 13 cm in length. Leaf veins are noticeable on both sides of the leaflet, and net veins are visible on the underside. Purple flowers grow on a terminal panicle, arranged in a series of racemes, and typically bloom from February to April, though flowering can occur at other times of year. The fruit is a drupe, coloured brown or purplish black, and measures 5 to 7 mm across. The drupe contains two cells, each holding one 5 mm long seed. Seeds remain fertile for regeneration after being passed in the droppings of the pied currawong. The fruit is eaten by a wide variety of bird species, including the brown cuckoo dove, Australasian figbird, green catbird, Lewin's honeyeater, olive-backed oriole, pied currawong, paradise riflebird, rose crowned fruit dove, silvereye, superb fruit dove, topknot pigeon, and wompoo fruit dove.
