Macaranga gigantea (Reichb.f.
& Zoll.) Mull.Arg., in DC., Prodr. 15, 2 (1866)
Latin for 'giant', referring to the leaves.
Synonyms
Macaranga incisa Gage, Macaranga megalophylla (Mull.Arg)
Mull.Arg., Macaranga rugosa (Mull.Arg.) Mull.Arg., Mappa gigantea
Reichb.f. & Zoll., Mappa macrophylla Kurz ex Teijsm. & Binn., Mappa
megalophylla Mull.Arg., Mappa rugosa Mull.Arg.
Description
Sub-canopy tree up to 28 m tall and 50 cm dbh. Stipules ca. 43 mm long.
Leaves huge, alternate, simple, 3-lobed, palmately veined, peltate, toothed
margin, hairy lower surface. Flowers ca. 0.5 mm diameter, greenish, placed in
bundles within bracts which are part of large branched inflorescences. Fruits
ca. 7 mm diameter, green-yellow-browninsh, 2-lobed, dehiscent capsules, seeds
with purple aril.
Ecology
In disturbed, open sites in mixed dipterocarp forest up to 600 m altitude.
Very common in secondary forests and scrub. Often found along roads and on
hillsides on sandy to clay soils.
Distribution
Burma, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei,
Sabah, West-, Central-, South- and East-Kalimantan), Celebes.
Local names in Borneo
Badad, Bangauwang, Brunt, Malau, Marakubong, Merkubong, Sedaman, Talinga
gajah.
