Araliaceae (ivy and ginseng family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Asterids > Euasterid II > Order: Apiales

There are about 59 genera and 800 species in this family, which occurs in most parts of the world with the Malaysian region being particularly species rich. In southern Africa there are 5 genera and about 18 species, some naturalised.

Genera native to southern Africa

Based on Bredenkamp (2000).

Centella About 50 species, native mainly to southern Africa but with some species occurring as far north as Malawi and one species, Centella asiatica, having a cosmopolitan distribution. Centella used to be in the family Apiaceae but has been transferred to the Araliaceae on the basis of genetic evidence (Plunkett, Soltis & Soltis 1997).
Cussonia The 25 species are native to tropical and southern Africa, as well as the Mascarene Islands. There are about 10 species in southern Africa.
Hydrocotyle About 130 species, distributed worldwide with 3 indigenous and 2 naturalised species in southern Africa. Hydrocotyle used to be in the family Apiaceae but has been transferred to the Araliaceae on the basis of genetic evidence (Plunkett, Soltis & Soltis 1997).
Schefflera About 200 species, native to Africa, Madagascar, the Far East and New Zealand. There is 1 species native to southern Africa, Schefflera umbellifera. In addition, there are five exotic species that have been cultivated in southern Africa.
Seemannaralia The single species, Seemannaralia gerrardii, is native to southern Africa.

Exotic genera cultivated in southern Africa

Aralia Aralia chinensis (from China), Aralia racemosa (from North America) and Aralia spinosa (also from North America) are cultivated in southern Africa.
Dizygotheca Dizygotheca elegantissima is indigenous to New Caledonia and is cultivated in southern Africa.
Fatsia Fatsia japonica (Yatsude) is indigenous to Japan and is cultivated in southern Africa.
Hedera (ivies) About 9-11 species, all climbers, native to North Africa, Canary Islands, the Azores, Madeira, and from Europe to Himalayas, China, Korea and Japan. Common Ivy or English Ivy Hedera helix is a commonly grown garden climber. Hedera canariensis (Canary ivy) and Hedera colchica (Persian ivy) are also cultivated in gardens in southern Africa.
Heteropanax Heteropanax fragrans, indigenous from India to Indonesia, is cultivated in southern Africa.
Meryta Meryta denhamii (indigenous to New Caledonia) and Meryta sinclairii (Puka - indigenous to New Zealand) are cultivated in southern Africa.
Neopanax Neopanax arboreus (New Zealand cabbage tree) and Neopanax laetus (Red-ribbed cabbage tree - also from New Zealand) are cultivated in southern Africa.
Polyscias Four species from SE Asia and the Pacific are cultivated in southern Africa.
Pseudopanax Pseudopanax lessonii (Houpara - indigenous to New Zealand) is cultivated in southern Africa.
Tetrapanax Tetrapanax papyriferus (Rice-paper tree) is indigenous to Taiwan and is cultivated in southern Africa. The pith of the tree is used to produce rice paper.
Trevesia Trevesia palmata is indigenous from India through to China and is cultivated in southern Africa.

Other genera of note

Panax (Ginseng genus)

Ginseng is extracted from the roots of species in this genus, particularly Panax pseudoginseng ( from China, Korea), Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng - indigenous to eastern N America). Ginseng is regarded as a stimulant with supposed aphrodisiac properties.

Publications

Bredenkamp, C.L. 2000. Araliaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 99-100. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Cannon, J.F.M. 1978. Araliaceae. Flora zambesiaca 4: 621-632.
Plunkett, G.M., Soltis, D.E. & Soltis, P.S. 1997. Clarification of the relationship between Apiaceae and Araliaceae based on MATK and RBCL sequence data. American Journal of Botany 84: 565-580.
Reyneke, W.F. 1981. 'n Morfologies-taksonomiese studie van die familie Araliaceae in suidelike Afrika. D.Sc. study, University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Strey, R.G. 1981. Observations on the morphology of the Araliaceae in southern Africa. Journal of Dendrology 1 (3&4): 66-83.