Mallotus claoxyloides is an Australian rainforest

Rainforest

Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...

 plant in the spurge family

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti....

. Common names include Green Kamala, Odour Bush, and Smell of the Bush. Opinions are divided on the strong scent of the plant. Some say it is offensive and resembles a skunk

Striped Skunk

The striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Found over most of the North American continent north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States.-Description:...

 while most others find the scent aromatic and delightful. Because of the scent, it is grown in gardens.

The specific epithet refers to the similarity of the foliage to Claoxylon

Claoxylon

Claoxylon is a flowering plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, comprising dioecious subshrubs to small trees. The genus comprises about 80 species, distributed in paleotropical areas: Madagascar through South and Southeast Asia, Malesia to Melanesia, Hawaii, and Australia. Half of the...

. The natural range of distribution is from the Richmond River, New South Wales to Torres Strait

Torres Strait

The Torres Strait is a body of water which lies between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is approximately wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost continental extremity of the Australian state of Queensland...

 to the north east of Australia. The habitat is in the drier of eastern Australian rainforests. It is a useful regeneration plant, appearing quickly in disturbed areas.

Description

A bush to small tree, to 11 metres tall with a stem diameter of 23 cm. The trunk is crooked, with fairly smooth grey or greenish grey bark. There are some bumps and irregularities, occasionally forming a vertical row. Small branches are brown, green and downy at the end, usually marked with reddish brown bumps.

Leaves opposite on the stem, 5 to 12 cm long, 3 to 6 cm wide. Variable in shape, but mostly ovate or elliptic. Occasionally heart shaped at the base. Leaves toothed or entire. Glands are sometimes seen on the upper part of the leaf near the leaf base. Leaf stalks show short hairs, and vary in length from 5 mm to 40 mm. Like the related Red Kamala

Mallotus philippensis

Mallotus philippensis is a plant in the spurge family. It is known as the Kamala or Red Kamala, due to the fruit covering, which produces a red dye. However, it must be distinguished from Kamala meaning 'lotus' in many Indian languages, an unrelated plant, flower, and sometimes metonymic spiritual...

two basal veins are present, growing to a third of a half of the way up the leaf. Net veins are visible under the leaf.

Flowers, fruit and regeneration

Greenish yellow flowers form on clusters from October to March. Male and female flowers grow on different trees. No petals on the female flowers. The brown capsule matures from February to June, around 13 mm in diameter, covered with bristles. It splts into two valved segments, with a single grey round seed within each segment. Regeneration from fresh seed is reliable. Cuttings are also expected to do well.