Polyscias gymnocarpa, a member of the Araliaceae (ginseng) family, is a tree 2.5 to 10 m (8 to 33 ft) tall, either hairless or with fuzzy, short-lived hairs on young leaves and flower clusters. The leaves are 30 to 55 cm (12 to 22 in) long with 7 to 21 leathery, oval to elliptic leaflets per leaf. Each leaflet is 7 to 18 cm (2.8 to 7.1 in) long and 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.1 in) wide and is folded upward along the midvein. The flowers are usually arranged in threes or in an umbrella-shaped arrangement. Petals are 4 to 8 mm (0.2 to 0.3 in) long and usually number 5 or 6 per flower; with an equal number of stamens. The ovary has 3 or 4 sections and appears placed atop the receptacle (base of the flower) in a superior position, due to the expansion of the ovary disk (outgrowth of the receptacle) and the reduction of the hypanthium (basal portion of the flower). Fruits are purplish, oval or top-shaded drupes, 6 to 12 mm (0.2 to 0.5 in) long, that enclose a papery endocarp and single seeds.