Kingdom Plantae Family Araliaceae Scientific name Gastonia mauritiana | Order Apiales Genus Polyscias Rank Species | |
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Similar Gastonia, Gastonia cutispongia, Tarenna borbonica, Psiadia arguta, Polyscias aemiliguineae | ||
Polyscias maraisiana (fr: Bois bœuf / Bois d’éponge. eng: Ox Tree.) is a species of plant in the Araliaceae family, formerly named Gastonia mauritiana.
It is endemic to Mauritius, where it was formerly common on forest verges and also in coastal areas. It was formerly grown as an ornamental in Europe, partly on account of its strikingly heteroblastic leaves, however it is rarely found in international cultivation now. It is however beginning to be cultivated in its native country, as an ornamental landscaping plant - for gardens and public areas.
It is one of several Polyscias species which are endemic to Mauritius, including Polyscias dichroostachya (distinctive flower-spike and large, square leaf-segments), Polyscias neraudiana (red flowers on spike, and smaller, longer leaf-segments), Polyscias gracilis, and Polyscias paniculata.