AgroForestryTree Database
Macaranga tanarius
 Species identityEcology and distributionPropagation and managementFunctional usesPests and diseasesAdditional InfoBibliographyImages |
Species identity
TaxonomySynonym(s)
Common names
(English) : hairy mahang
(Filipino) : binunga, himindang, kuyonon
(Indonesian) : hanuwa, mapu, mara, tutup ancur
(Javanese) : tutup ancur
(Malay) : ka-lo, kundoh, mahang puteh, tampu
(Thai) : hu chang lek, ka-lo, lo khao, mek, paang
(Vietnamese) : hach dâu nam
Botanic description
Macaranga tanarius is a small- to medium-sized dioecious tree up to 20 m tall, usually much shorter; branches rather thick, glaucous, pubescent when young. Leaves alternate, blade peltate, suborbicular, 8-32 x 5-28 cm, rounded at the base, acuminate at the apex, entire, sometimes denticulate or slightly lobed, with distinct veins, hairy when young; petiole 6-27 cm long, with large caducous stipules at the base. Flowers in axillary, paniculate inflorescences, composed of bracts enclosing clusters of flowers; male flowers minute, many in a cluster with (min. 3) 5-6 (max. 10) stamens, female flowers few in a cluster, with a subovoid, glandular, 2-celled ovary and 2 large stigmas. Fruit a bicoccus capsule, about 1 cm in diameter, with long,soft prickles, yellowish, glandular outside. Seeds globose, about 5 mm in diameter, rugose. The generic name is after a native name from Madagascar.
Ecology and distribution
Natural HabitatA very fast-growing pioneer species, M. tanarius is often common in secondary forests, especially in logging areas. It is also found in thickets, brushwood, village groves and beach vegetation.
Geographic distribution
Native : Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand, Vietnam
Biophysical limitsAltitude: Up to 1500 m Soil type: Occurs on clayey, loamy and sandy soils, usually in lowlands.
Reproductive Biology
M. tanarius is a dioecious, wind pollinated tree, flowering and fruiting fairly regularly.
Propagation and management
Propagation methodsMacaranga can be propagated from seed. Seeds sown with adhering pulp have a germination rate of about 50% in 24-72 (max. 265) days.Germplasm Management
Seed storage behaviour is orthodox. There are approximately 54 500 dry seeds/kg.
Functional uses
ProductsFood: In Sumatra, fruit are added to palm juice when it is boiled down into crystals, improving the quality of the sugar produced. Fuel: Good firewood is provided by Macaranga tanarius. Fibre: Macaranga yields a high-quality pulp and produces high-quality particleboard. Timber: The timber is soft and light, about 500 kg/cubic m air-dry. It is not durable or resistant to termite attack but is fairly tough. The grain is straight or only shallowly interlocked, with a moderately fine and even texture. Pepper growers in southern Sumatra use it to make temporary ladders to harvest their crop. Gum or resin: In Indonesia and the Philippines, the gum tapped from the bark is used as a glue, particularly for joining parts of musical instruments. Tannin or dyestuff: The bark contains tannin, which is used for toughening fishing nets. Nets dipped in a decoction of the bark will stand the influence of seawater for a considerable amount of time. In Indonesia, the leaves have been reported to dye matting black, like other Euphorbiaceae. Alcohol: Bark and leaves are widely used in the Philippines in the preparation of a fermented drink called ‘basi’ made from sugarcane.Services
Shade or shelter: M. tanarius has been recommended as a shade and shelter tree to promote natural regeneration on deforested land.
Bibliography
Hong TD, Linington S, Ellis RH. 1996. Seed storage behaviour: a compendium. Handbooks for Genebanks: No. 4. IPGRI.Lemmens RHMJ and Wulijarni-Spetjiptoed. 1991. Dye and tannin producing plants: Plant Resources of South-East Asia. No. 3. Pudoc Wageningen. Netherlands.
Perry LM. 1980. Medicinal plants of East and South East Asia : attributed properties and uses. MIT Press. South East Asia.
Sosef MSM, Hong LT, Prawirohatmodjo S. (eds.). 1998. PROSEA 5(3) Timber trees: lesser known species. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.