Macaranga lowii var. lowii King ex Hook.f., Fl. Br. Ind. 5 (1887)
Named after H. Low [1793-1863], a British plant breeder.

Synonyms
Macaranga glaberrima var. kostermansii Airy Shaw, Macaranga poilanei Gagnep., Mallotus affinis Merr., Mallotus tsiangii Merr. & Chun

Description
Sub-canopy tree up to 22 m tall and 33 cm dbh. Stipules crowded at twig tips, needle-like, ca. 8 mm long. Leaves alternate, simple, penni-veined, hairy below, with two nectary glands at the upper leaf base. Flowers ca. 1.5 mm diameter, yellow, placed in axillary racemes. Fruits ca. 11 mm diameter, green, 2-lobed, spiny, dehiscent capsules.

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp and sub-montane forests up to 1500 m altitude. Usually on hillsides and ridges with sandy soils. Also found on ultrabasic soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Uses
Firewood.

Distribution
Southern China, Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (Sarawak, Brunei, Sabah, West-, Central- and East-Kalimantan), Philippines.

Local names in Borneo
Kenayan, Mahang jarum.