高山鴨腳木

科名:五加科

學名:Schefflera taiwaniana
Family name: Araliaceae
Scientific name: Schefflera taiwaniana
 
 
  高山鴨腳木又名臺灣鴨腳木,特產於海拔2,000-25,00公尺山區的原生常綠小喬木。看看眼前這棵樹的葉片,是不是覺得很特別呢?如鴨腳般的掌狀葉,就像它的名片一樣,讓人容易辨認。翠綠光滑的葉片,可做為插花的素材;新鮮的葉片具有止痛、消腫、止癢的功效,同時也是高山地區的蜜源植物之一。型態上與江某相似,不同的是高山鴨腳木小葉4-5枚,稀至8枚,卵狀長橢圓形至長橢圓狀披針形,先端尾狀,下表面灰白色;江某小葉6-9枚,橢圓形或卵狀橢圓形。
 
 
  Endemic to Taiwan, Taiwan schefflera can be found in mountains between 2,000 and 2,500 meters. A small evergreen tree, it has leaves resembling the shape of a goose’s foot. Its shiny leaves, when fresh, help alleviate pain, swollenness and itchiness. It is also a nectar plant. It differs from Taiwan schefflera in that it has 4 to 5 leaflets, ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, apex caudate. The back of the leave appears grayish white. Common schefflera octophylla has 6 to 9 leaflets, elliptic or ovate-elliptic.