Fatsia Decne & Planch. (1776), in the family Araliaceae, contains
3 species in eastern Asia, from Taiwan to Japan. Description Shrubs to 5m, with thick twigs, without spines. The leaves are alternate, evergreen, thick and leathery, palmately lobed with 7–11 lobes. The flowers are white, in small umbels, usually bisexual, sometimes unisexual, in a compound inflorescence, with white branches. Sepals joined to form a minutely toothed calyx or just a ring. Petals usually 5, spreading when open. Stamens usually 5. Ovary inferior, with 3–10 cells; styles 3–10. Pollination is presumed to be by insects. The fruits are fleshy berries, usually black when ripe, with 3–10 seeds. Key Recognition Features Fatsia is usually recognised by its shining, palmately lobed, evergreen leaves and inflorescence of white flowers or black fruit. Evolution and Relationships Fatsia is an isolated genus, confined to islands in the Pacific. Dendropanax Decne & Planch. is often similar, with evergreen, shining leaves, but the inflorescence is a small, simple umbel of green flowers. Ecology and Geography In forests and scrub near the sea, with F. japonica (Murray) Decne & Planch. in the southern half of Japan, on the Ryukyu Islands, and in Korea, and F. oligocarpella (Nakai) syn. Boninofatsia oligocarpella Nakai on the Bonin Islands. The last species is found on Taiwan. Comment Fatsia japonica is commonly grown in western Europe and the milder parts of North America; it thrives in the shade of buildings, and the shining surface of the leaves throws off pollution. |
