Bean, Polyscias in Queensland 
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Key to the Polyscias species of Queensland 
1 At least some bipinnate leaves on a given branch.2 
1. All leaves pinnate.3 
2 Leaflets elliptical, 2.3-3.5 times longer than wide; flowers in umbels; styles 
not recurved in fruit.2. P. bellendenkerensis 
2. Leaflets broadly ovate, 1.6-2.3 times longer than wide; flowers 
solitary, arranged in a raceme along the secondary axes; styles 
recurved in fruit.3. P. elegans 
3 Stems with stout prickles; leaflet margins with many small teeth 0.3-0.5 
mm long.5. P. mollis 
3. Stems unarmed; leaflet margins entire or with teeth c. 1 mm long.4 
4 Undersides of mature leaflets white or grey due to very numerous tiny 
peltate scales.9. P. sambucifolia 
4. Undersides of mature leaflets green, glabrous.5 
5 New vegetative growth, petiole bases and floral bracts hairy.6 
5. New vegetative growth, petiole bases and floral bracts glabrous.8 
6 Petiolules of lateral leaflets < 5% lamina length; fruits 10-locular; styles 
recurved in fruit; the hairs white or grey; pedicels not articulated ... 10. P. spectabilis 
6. Petiolules of lateral leaflets 5-20% of lamina length; fruits 2- or 3-locular; 
styles erect in fruit; the hairs rusty-coloured; pedicels articulated.7 
7 Dried fruits 3.5-6 mm long, 3 or 4-locular; fruiting pedicels 3-9 mm 
long.1. P. australiana 
7. Dried fruits 6.5-8 mmlong, 2 or3 (-4)-locular; fruiting pedicels 13-23 mm 
long.12. P. zippeliana 
8 Tall trees, often exceeding 15 m; well-developed leaves more than 1.5 m 
long, leaflets 15-35; petiolules of lateral leaflets < 5% of lamina length.9 
8. Small trees to 6 m high; well-developed leaves 20-50 cm long, leaflets 
3-15; petiolules of lateral leaflets 5-45% of lamina length.10 
9 Leaflets narrow, 3.2-5 times longer than wide; fruits 2-locular, flattened, 
distinctly pedicellate.6. P. murrayi 
9. Leaflets broader, 2.1-2.8 times longer than wide; fruits 5-locular, ± 
globose, sessile.7. P. nodosa 
10 Petiolules long, 25-45% of leaflet length; leaflet margins undulate; 
fruits 5-locular.11. P. willmottii 
10. Petiolules shorter, 5-20% of leaflet length; leaflet margins flat; fruits 
2-locular.11 
11 Leaflets ± parallel-sided, abruptly narrowed near apex; dried specimens 
highly odoriferous; petals white to greenish; dried mature fruits 4-5 
mm long, fruiting pedicels 3.5-5 mm long; usually growing in littoral 
zone.4. P. macgillivrayi 
11. Leaflets tapering ± evenly to the apex; dried specimens not 
odoriferous; petals purple; dried mature fruits 2.5-3.5 mm long, 
fruiting pedicels 1.5-3 mm long; growing in rainforest away from the 
coast.8. P. purpurea 
