The
circumscription of the genus has varied greatly. Phylogenetic studies have shown that the widely used broad circumscription was
polyphyletic, so most of its hundreds of species have been reassigned to other genera. Molecular analyses have recovered five polyphyletic clades of
Schefflera, all of which are geographically isolated from one another yet share similar traits indicating
parallel evolution. These clades have been split into separate genera, primarily along geographical lines, with
Schefflera now consisting of thirteen species restricted to New Zealand and some Pacific islands. The houseplant popularly known as "Schefflera" is now
Heptapleurum arboricola. The old
Didymopanax Decne. & Planch., 1854 genus was resurrected in 2020 to welcome the 37 American species of
Schefflera J.R. et G. Forst.. The genus has had a turbulent taxonomic history; the list of former
synonyms includes: •
Actinomorphe •
Actinophyllum •
Agalma •
Astropanax •
Brassaia •
Cephaloschefflera •
Crepinella •
Didymopanax •
Geopanax •
Heptapleurum •
Neocussonia •
Nesopanax •
Parapanax •
Paratropia •
Plerandra •
Sciadophyllum •
Tupidanthus ==Species==