Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Araliaceae
Genus: Pseudopanax
Species: P. discolor
Binomial name: Pseudopanax discolor
Synonym: Panax discolor
Pseudopanax discolor is a much branching native shrub that can grow up to 5m. It has 3-5-foliolate (compound leaves) on the ends of long stems. There are also single leaves present. The leaves upper margins have large pointed teeth. The leaves are usually green but sometimes they can have a bronze-green colour especially on the undersides.
The leaves of P. discolor are smaller than that of P. arboreus (which usually has 5 leaflets). Pseudopanax colensoi var. ternata also has three leaflets but these are larger and thicker than P. discolor.
There are male and female trees.but only the female has female flowers while the male tree can be bisexual.
Its natural habit is the northern areas of the North Island of New Zealand.
It is now sold by specialised nurseries so it now can be found growing outside its natural habitat.
Ripening capsules on a female tree,
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
