Trevesia burckii (Snow Flake Tree)

Botanical name: Trevesia burckii

Common names: Snow Flake Tree, Ghost's Foot

Family: Araliaceae

Origin: Sumatra to Borneo

Named for Enrichetta Treves de Bonfili, of Padua, 19th century patron of botanical research.

Leaves of all the species are palmately lobed, but in some the lobes are narrowed to form false petiolules, and the lamina is expanded again towards the base of the leaf. In Trevesia burckii these leaves are the normal adult state, while in another species (Trevesia palmata) the leaf dissection is variable both between and within individual plants. Young T. burckii seedlings have ovate leaves.

The plant reaches in nature a size of up to 15-20" and prefers the shaded environment of a mountain rainforest. It is a hardy indoor plant that can tolerate a very wide range of home environments from full sunshine to dark corners.