''Cussonia'' is a genus of plants of the family Araliaceae, which is native to the

Afrotropics The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...

. It originated in Africa and has its center of distribution in South Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Due to their striking habit, they are a conspicuous and easily recognizable group of plants. Their genus name commemorates the botanist Pierre Cusson. The Afro-Malagasy and Asian '' Schefflera'', and Afrotropical ''

Seemannaralia ''Seemannaralia gerrardii'', commonly known as the wild-maple or mock carrot tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araliaceae. It is the sole member of genus ''Seemannaralia'', and is endemic (ecology), endemic to South Africa, wher ...

'' genera are related taxa that share several of its morphological characteristics, among which the leaves borne on the end of branches, inflorescences carried on terminal branches or stems, and reduced leaf complexity in developing inflorescences.

Range and habitat

They occur in grasslands, woodlands and forests, from sea level to over 2,000 metres in altitude. Geographically, they are indigenous to

sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...

, Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula and the Comoro Islands.

Habit and morphology

They are squat to lanky shrubs and trees with a palm-like habit. Their leaves are typically grouped in umbrella-shaped arrangements at the tips of long erect branches. The leaves are carried on long petioles, and have conspicuous stipules. The leaves are very variable in shape, often palmately compound (''cf.'' subgenus ''Paniculata'' Strey) with leaflets likewise variable in shape, but also simple or palmate. Their usually dense inflorescences are often spiked, and their small flowers usually have 5 greenish petals. Their stems and underground parts are succulent, and their bark is often corky. These plants are best grown from seed. These plants can handle an occasional and mild frost, but a chill will make the leaves fall off.

Species

There are some 20 to 22 species: * '' Cussonia angolensis'' (Seem.) Hiern * '' Cussonia arborea'' Hochst. ex A.Rich. * '' Cussonia arenicola'' Strey * '' Cussonia bancoensis'' Aubrév. & Pellegr. * '' Cussonia brieyi'' De Wild. * '' Cussonia corbisieri'' De Wild. * '' Cussonia gamtoosensis'' Strey * '' Cussonia holstii'' Harms ex Engl. * '' Cussonia jatrophoides'' Hutchinson & E.A.Bruce * '' Cussonia natalensis'' Sond. * '' Cussonia nicholsonii'' Strey * '' Cussonia ostinii'' Chiov. * ''

Cussonia paniculata ''Cussonia paniculata'', also known as kiepersol, is a large evergreen shrub or small tree up to in height native to South Africa. The plant has large and bold textured grey foliage. Uses The leaf is used ethnomedically to treat dysmenorrhe ...

'' Eckl. & Zeyh. * '' Cussonia sessilis'' Lebrun * ''

Cussonia sphaerocephala ''Cussonia sphaerocephala'' is a species of tree in the family Araliaceae. It is known as the Natal forest cabbage tree; in Afrikaans it is called the Natalse boskiepersol, and in isiZulu as umsenge. Description The distinctive leaves are twice ...

'' Strey * ''

Cussonia spicata ''Cussonia spicata'', known as spiked cabbage tree, lowveld cabbage tree or common cabbage tree, is a tree in the family Araliaceae, which is native to the moister regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is cultivated as a garden plant in areas witho ...

'' Thunb. * ''

Cussonia thyrsiflora ''Cussonia thyrsiflora'', known as the Cape coast cabbage tree, or Kaapse kuskiepersol in Afrikaans, is a small evergreen tree in the family Araliaceae. Range It naturally occurs in South Africa along the southern Cape coast, between Cape Town a ...

'' Thunb. * '' Cussonia transvaalensis'' Reyneke * ''

Cussonia zimmermannii ''Cussonia'' is a genus of plants of the family Araliaceae, which is native to the Afrotropics. It originated in Africa and has its center of distribution in South Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Due to their striking habit, they are a conspi ...

'' Harms * ''

Cussonia zuluensis ''Cussonia'' is a genus of plants of the family Araliaceae, which is native to the Afrotropics. It originated in Africa and has its center of distribution in South Africa and the Mascarene Islands. Due to their striking habit, they are a conspi ...

'' Strey

Gallery

Cussonia natalensis, blaar, Mthonjaneni.jpg, Palmate leaf of '' Cussonia natalensis'' Cussonia nicholsonii, blaar, Burmanbos.jpg, Compound leaf of '' Cussonia nicholsonii'' (6 leaflets) Cussonia paniculata07.jpg, Inflorescences of ''

'' Cussonia thyrsiflora - Cape Coast Cabbage Tree 2.JPG, Infrutescences of ''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q142359 Araliaceae Apiales genera Flora of Southern Africa