The globular clusters of flowers bear some similarities to : Ivy

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature : The large shiny green 7-9 lobed leaves which are deeply lobed.

It has several other names, one of which is Fig-leaf Palm, but it bears no relation to Palm.

More likely to be found in a garden than growing wild, but it is to be found mostly in and around the Greater London area. Native to Japan, they grow between 3 and 6m tall. The flowers are in globular clusters, the clusters arranged hierarchically as a panicle. Each globular cluster resembles that of Ivy to which it is related. The leaves are much larger than those of Ivy and with many more than three the lobes of Ivy. The glossy leaves have between 7 and 9 lobes (typically 8, which is why they have the latin name 'Fatsia' which in an older Japanese language means '8' (the modern day Japanese word for 8 is now 'hachi'). It is very tolerant of shade, when the leaves will take on a much darker shade of green.

The fruits appear between March and May.

A POLYACETYLENE Cis-9,17-Octadecadiene-12,14-diyne-1,16-diol, a polyacetylenic analogue of Falcarinol (which is present in Ivy) has been found in Japanese Aralia. It is an allergen and strong sensitizer. This compound was found to be about six times more abundant in the leaves of Dendropanax trifidus an Ivy-like tree belonging in the same family as Japanese Aralia and Ivy.

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