Volume 8 > Part 2 > Year 2007 > Page 379 > Euphorbiaceae > Macaranga

20. Macaranga tanarius (L.) Müll.Arg.wfo-0000232270

in DC., Prodr. 15, 2: 997. 1866; Pax & K.Hoffm. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 147. vii: 352. 1914; Airy Shaw, Kew Bull. 23: 93. 1969 passim, 26: 291. 1971; Kew Bull. Add. Ser. 4: 158. 1975; Kew Bull. 36: 322. 1981; Whitmore, Tree Fl. Malaya 2: 111. 1973; Gard. Bull. Singapore 31: 56. 1978; Chiu, Guihaia 2: 147. 1982, in clavi.— Ricinus tanarius L. in Stickm., Herb. Amboin.: 14. 1754; Amoen. Acad. 4: 125, 1759. Fig. 19; Plate XX: 2.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Small tree; twigs rounded, glabrous or finely pubescent. Stipules ovate to broadly elliptic, to 20 by 8 mm, apex acute to caudate, drying dark brown, papery, erect, subpersistent or caducous. Leaves: petiole to 15 cm long, rounded, glabrous to slightly furfuraceous or pubescent, at least at tip; blade ovate, to 17 by 15 cm, papery, base rounded to 4 cm peltate, with palmate venation, margin distantly finely toothed, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous to furfurescent to pubescent on nerves below, sometimes just near petiole insertion, granular glands minute, inconspicuous, sparse to dense, golden or blackish. Staminate inflorescences variable, narrow panicles to 15 cm long, glabrous to hairy; flower clusters spaced or overlapping, branches subtended by usually soon caducous stipule-like bracts to 8 mm long; bracteoles persistent, larger than clusters, apex acute to caudate, margin deeply irregularly dissected into many fine teeth, glabrous to hairy, sometimes nerved. Staminate flowers 5–6(–14) per cluster; pedicel 1–1.5 mm long; sepals free; stamens 6 or 7, anthers 4-locular. Infructescences 4–16 cm long, with crowded fruits; rachis glabrous or furfuraceous; bracteoles caducous, sometimes stalked, leafy, ovate, concave, ca 4 by 4 mm or larger, upper margin deeply dentate to fimbriate, apex acuminate, papery, glabrous to hairy. Fruits bilobed, to 10 mm across by 6 mm, glabrous to variously granular glandular, with numerous long slender tentacle-like processes from upper half, woody; pedicel ca 2 mm long; calyx tiny, persistent styles persistent, ca 5 mm long, filiform.

Thailand : See under varieties.

Distribution : India to China, Japan, all Malesia (Maluku – type), Queensland and Melanesia.