谷主賞樹無數，獨喜愛鴨腳木樹性中的不群和承擔，在此介紹它的特性．

6-8塊小葉組成的復葉，有鴨腳木和鵝掌柴的中文名稱，它的學名以葉片數量命名：Schefflera heptaphylla和舊名Schefflera octophylla．復葉似鴨腳還是鵝掌，是heptaphylla還是octophylla，中外都引來爭議．

鴨腳木是本地樹種，生長速度一般．當混在快高長大樹種中，在競爭下最終成為犧牲者．在樹林中，鴨腳木較常見在邊緣位置而不是中間．

After scanning many trees I have been strongly attracted by Ivy Tree because of its solitary and be willing to take part in the nature. Let me tell you more in the following.

The compound leave is composed of 6-8 leaflets, therefore, it is called 『Duck Foot』 or 「Goose Foot』 in Chinese Name. At the same while, its scientific name is Schefflera heptaphylla and the old name Schefflera octophylla, both are  named after the number of leaves. No mater in the east or in the west, there is argument of its name.   

Ivy Tree is a native tree. When they are planted together with fast growing trees, they are always being sacrificed as they don』t have outstanding ability to fight for a better habitat. Therefore, they can only locate at the edge of the forest.

大多數樹木在春夏天開花結果，鴨腳木卻選擇在秋天開花，冬天結果，成為花期的異類．因為這個不尋常，為秋冬採蜜昆蟲和食果雀鳥提供了食物來源．它是五加科Araliaceae的植物，與人參同科，也有保氣的特性．

它的花蜜可製成冬蜜．它的木材可製成火柴枝．

Generally, the spring and the summer are swarmed with flowers and fruits for most of the trees. However, Ivy Tree has made the difference. It chooses to grow the flowers in autumn and produce the fruits in winter, they become the main food sources in this season, flowers for insects and fruits for birds.  

Ivy Tree is in the same family Araliaceae as the Ginseng and it is also good for health. The nectar can be made into winter honey and the wood can be made into match.
本地樹種在大自然中承擔了共生的價值，鴨腳木是白傘弄蝶的宿主．冬天出現的蝴蝶，比春夏的少去美食的選擇，卻同時少了天敵的騷擾，當然有鴨腳木的全力支援，白傘弄蝶不愁沒有食物．

The native tree is co-exiting with the ecological environment as well. The butterfly Pale Awlet takes Ivy Tree as its host plant. Winter butterflies are facing the problem of lacking of food in exchange the benefit of fewer predators. Don』t worry, the Ivy Tree will support the Pale Awlet with sufficient food in winter!  

Translated by Paula Wong