Macaranga triloba (Thunb.) Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr. 15(2): 989. 1866; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 452. 1887. Ricinus trilobus Thunb., Diss. Ricin. 6. 1815; Blume, Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind. 626. 1826.

Trees, 5 - 8 m tall; branches smooth, glabrous. Leaves broadly peltate, orbicular in outline, rounded at base, 3-lobed above, 18 - 30 x 15 - 26 cm, dentate along margins, chartaceous to subcoriaceous; basal nerves 3, palmate; secondary nerves 16 - 20 pairs in central lobe and 10 - 13 in lateral lobes; petioles 10 - 27 cm long; stipules ovate-lanceolate. Male inflorescences axillary, paniculate, 10 - 23 cm long, yellowish gland-dotted; bracts broadly lanceolate, 10 - 15 x 5 - 8 mm, yellowish glandular beneath; bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, irregularly serrate, 6 - 7 x 3 - 4 mm; pedicels 3 - 6 mm long; flowers ca 1 mm across, clustered in bracts; calyx-lobes 3 - 5, linear-lanceolate, 0.6 - 0.8 x 0.3 - 0.5 mm; stamen solitary in each flower, ca 0.5 mm long; filament attached to sepals; anther 4-loculed. Female flowers: few, capitate on short axillary 3 - 6 mm long puberulous peduncles; bracts 3 or 4-flowered; calyx spathaceous, 3 - 5-lobed; lobes ca 2 mm across; ovary 3-loculed, obconical, ca 2 mm across, nearly glabrous; styles 4 or 5, stout, connate into an ovoid mass, 1.5 - 2 mm long. Fruits subglobose, 4 - 6-lobed, 1 - 1.5 cm across; persistent calyx forms a stellate border, up to 7 x 5 mm.

Fl. & Fr. Feb. - Sept.

Distrib. India: Evergreen inland forests at low altitudes, often along watercourses, on clayey loam. Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Great Nicobar Island only).

Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines.

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