| Cabbage trees | |
|---|---|
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| Cussonia paniculata | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Araliaceae |
| Subfamily: | Aralioideae |
| Genus: | Cussonia Thunb. |
| Species | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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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 conspicuous and easily recognizable group of plants. Their genus name commemorates the botanist Pierre Cusson.[1] The Afro-Malagasy and Asian Schefflera, and Afrotropical Seemannaralia 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.[2]
- ^ Gavhi, Peter; Harris, Shireen; Reynolds, Yvonne (October 2002). "Cussonia paniculata Eckl. & Zeyh". PlantZAfrica.com. SANBI. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ de Villiers, Bernard J.; Tilney, Patricia M.; van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2010). "The taxonomic significance of leaf anatomical characters in Cussonia and related genera (Araliaceae)" (PDF). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 164 (3): 246–263. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2010.01085.x. Retrieved 25 April 2017.