Polyscias maraisiana

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Gastonia mauritiana - Pamplemousses 5.jpg

|image_caption = At the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, Mauritius

|status = EN

|status_system = IUCN2.3

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Strahm, W. |year=1998 |title=Polyscias mauritiana |volume=1998 |page=e.T32695A9718713 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32695A9718713.en |access-date=8 March 2014}}

|genus = Polyscias

|species = maraisiana

|authority = Lowry & G.M.Plunkett

|synonyms =

• Gastonia elegans {{au|(W.Bull) Frodin}}
• Gastonia mauritiana {{au|Marais}}
• Terminalia elegans {{au|W.Bull}}

|synonyms_ref = {{ThePlantList|id=kew-463958|taxon=Polyscias maraisiana|authority=Lowry & G.M.Plunkett|access-date=8 March 2014}}

}}

Polyscias maraisiana is a species of plant in the family Araliaceae, formerly named Gastonia mauritiana.

It is endemic to Mauritius, where it was formerly common on forest verges and also in coastal areas. It was formerly grown as an ornamental in Europe, partly on account of its strikingly heteroblastic leaves, however it is rarely found in international cultivation now. It is however beginning to be cultivated in its native country, as an ornamental landscaping plant - for gardens and public areas. It is named for the botanist Wessel Marais.

It is one of several Polyscias species which are endemic to Mauritius, including Polyscias dichroostachya (distinctive flower-spike and large, square leaf-segments), Polyscias neraudiana (red flowers on spike, and smaller, longer leaf-segments), Polyscias gracilis, and Polyscias paniculata.[http://forestry.govmu.org/English/Pages/List-of-Indigenous-Plants.aspx Indigenous Plants of Mauritius List]

Gastonia mauritiana - Bois Boeuf - Endangered tree of Mauritius 3.jpg|Young sapling

File:Gastonia mauritiana canopy - Ile aux Aigrettes 1.jpg|Canopy of a large specimen on Ile aux Aigrettes, Mauritius