with medicinal purposes, Polyscias fruticosa is also used as an ornamental plant and a spice. In experiments with rodents, root extract of Polyscias fruticosa (Vietnamese= Dinh lang) has been demonstrated to extend life span. A recent study on this plant by Vo Duy Huan and colleagues, has afforded to known oleanolic acid saponins from the leaves, and polyacetylenes from the roots. This shows antibacterial and antifungal activities. The volatile leaf oils were also studied and isolated to find eight new oleanolic acid saponins, named polysciosides A to H, and three known saponins. House plant care When considering this plant for home aesthetics, one should keep in mind that Polyscias fruticosa'' needs full sun to partial shade or high interior lighting. When grown in the greenhouse, the soil mixture should consist of two parts peat moss to two parts loam to one part sand or perlite. The plant should be kept moist; during the winter months, water should be restricted, but the plant should never be allowed to dry out completely. The plants should be fertilized only three times during the growing season using a balanced fertilizer diluted to half the strength recommended on the label. Since the plants are fairly slow growers, very little pruning is needed to keep the desired form. However, unlike plants that branch sideways, the Ming aralia grows vertically. Trimming is useful in keeping the desired height as well as shape. The tips are trimmed in order to encourage more rapid branching and thickening of the trunk. The joints, closely set, then produce a thick growth of branches and a dense covering of leaves, which is an ideal look for this particular plant. The stems weave back and forth, creating a complex interlocking arrangement. As the plant ages, the lower branches die off, leaving a corky surface that is gnarled where the branches had been. This appearance is what attracts many people to adopting these plants for decoration of their homes and offices. Sources Maas, Paul J.M., and Lubbert Y. Th. Westra. Neotropical Plant Families. 1st ed. Koenigstein, Germany: Koeltz Scientific Books, 1993. Print. Martorell, Luis F., and Liogier. Henri Alain. 1st ed. Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico: Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, 1982. Print. Huan, Vo Duy, and Satoshi Yamamuraa, and Kazuhiro Ohtania, and Ryoji Kasaia, and Kazuo Yamasaki, and Nguyen Thoi Nham, and Hoang Minh Chau. "Oleanane Saponins from Polyscias Fruticosa." Pergamon 47.