Macaranga tanarius
Encyclopedia
Macaranga tanarius is a plant found in South East Asia, Papua New Guinea
and eastern Australia
. It's commonly seen as a pioneer species in disturbed rainforest
areas. Easily recognised for the round veiny leaves. In Australia it naturally occurs from the Richmond River, New South Wales to Cooktown in tropical Queensland
.
Some of the many common names include Blush Macaranga, Nasturtium Tree, David's Heart and Heart Leaf.
Leaves alternative, round with a tip. 8 to 23 cm long, greyish or white on the underside. Prominent leaf stalks 8 to 20 cm long which connect within the leaf itself. Nine main veins radiate from the leaf stalk, easily noticed on the upper and lower leaf side.
Yellow/green flowers form on panicle
s in the months of October to January (in New South Wales
). Female and male flowers on different trees. The fruit is a prickly three celled yellow capsule, 9 mm in diameter, maturing in January to February (in New South Wales). One black seed in each of the cells. Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty. Cuttings strike well.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It's commonly seen as a pioneer species in disturbed rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
areas. Easily recognised for the round veiny leaves. In Australia it naturally occurs from the Richmond River, New South Wales to Cooktown in tropical Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
Some of the many common names include Blush Macaranga, Nasturtium Tree, David's Heart and Heart Leaf.
Description
A shrub or bushy tree, sometimes reaching 12 metres tall and a stem diameter of 40 cm. The trunk is short and crooked. Bark being grey brown, with bumps and irregularities. The branchlets are smooth, bluish grey with prominent leaf scars.Leaves alternative, round with a tip. 8 to 23 cm long, greyish or white on the underside. Prominent leaf stalks 8 to 20 cm long which connect within the leaf itself. Nine main veins radiate from the leaf stalk, easily noticed on the upper and lower leaf side.
Yellow/green flowers form on panicle
Panicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
s in the months of October to January (in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
). Female and male flowers on different trees. The fruit is a prickly three celled yellow capsule, 9 mm in diameter, maturing in January to February (in New South Wales). One black seed in each of the cells. Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty. Cuttings strike well.