Macaranga trichocarpa (Reichb.f. & Zoll.) Mull.Arg., in DC. Prodr. 15, 2 (1866)
Latin for 'hairy fruits'.

Synonyms
Macaranga minutiflora Mull.Arg., Macaranga trichocarpa var. trilobulata Gagnep., Mappa trichocarpa Reichb.f. & Zoll.

Description
Shrub up to 7 m tall and 6 cm dbh. Twigs solid and hairy. Stipules ca. 5 mm long, dropped early. Leaves alternate, simple, tripli-veined, hairy (sandpaper like) on upper and lower surface, with two basal nectary glands on upper surface. Flowers ca. 0.5 mm diameter, green-yellowish, plaved in bundles within fimbriate bracts which are part of short racemes or panicles. Fruits ca. 10 mm diameter, green-silvery, 2-lobed, dehiscent, spiny capsules covered with irritating hairs.

Ecology
Usually gregarious in severely disturbed mixed dipterocarp forests, but sometimes also found in the understorey, up to 600 m altitude. Locally common in scrub, along roadsides and forest edges, mostly on hillsides and ridges.

Distribution
India, Burma, Indo-China, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (throughout the island).