Astropanax abyssinicus is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae. It is native to tropical Africa, with a range extending from southeastern Nigeria to Ethiopia and Zambia.
Synonym
- Schefflera abyssinica
Description
- A tree with a broad crown, growing up to:
- 12 metres as a freestanding tree
- 30 metres when growing epiphytically
- Often grows as an epiphyte on other trees
- Can send aerial roots to the ground
- May eventually out-compete the host tree
- Tree bole is often twisted, even in standalone trees
Habitat
- Found in:
- Montane rainforests
- Secondary growth forests
- Gallery forests
- Forest–grassland transition zones
- Elevation range:
- Typically 1,400–2,800 metres
- Occasionally as low as 1,200 metres
Uses
- Harvested from the wild for:
- Timber
- Firewood
- Traditional medicine
- Also used as:
- A living fence
- An ornamental plant in gardens