Back

Macaranga gigantea

Family Name:	Euphorbiaceae
Synonyms:	Macaranga megalophylla (Müll.Arg.) Müll.Arg.
Common Name:	Mahang Gajah, Elephant's Ear Tree, Giant Mahang, Telingga Gajah, Kubin, Kubang, Mengkubang

Macaranga gigantea or Mahang Gajah is a small to medium sized tree native to Singapore. Growing to a height of 15 m tall, it produces large, trilobed, coarsely toothed leaves that can reach 60 cm in length. Red dots are scattered on the underside of the leaves. The flowers are borne on a densely branched inflorescence. The male inflorescences are larger, measuring to 50 cm long while the smaller female inflorescences measure to about 15 - 25 cm long. The fruit is a bi-lobed, yellow, sticky capsule that split upon maturity.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Ornamental Leaves

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m), Medium (16m-30m))
Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Myanmar, Malay Peninsular, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is small to medium sized tree with pale brown to whitish bark that can reach to 15 m, rarely to 25 m tall.
Foliage	The leaves are large, leathery, broadly egg-shaped, tri-lobed measuring to 60 cm long by 50 cm wide. Margins are coarsely toothed with small cup-like gland on each tooth while the midrib and lateral veins are slightly covered in coarse grey tufted hairs. Leaves are dull green above, pale below with scattered tiny red dots below. The stalk is attached 4 - 13 cm from the base of the leaf (peltate). The stipules are fairly persistent, oblong, papery, erect measuring to 45 mm long by 25 mm wide.
Flowers	Flowers are dioecious where the male and female flowers are produced on different trees. Flowers are borne on a densely branched inflorescence, irregularly spaced in groups of 10 -15 flowers. The male inflorescence is larger, measuring to 50 cm long by 24 cm wide while the female inflorescence is smaller, measuring 15 - 25 cm long. Each flower is papery, persistent bracts are overlapping, irregularly toothed, egg-shaped, covered in short, fine grey hairs, measuring to 5 mm long by 4 mm wide.

Fruit	The fruit is a 2-lobed, yellow, sticky capsule, measuring 4 - 5 mm long by 6 - 8 mm wide. Lobes are almost round, each containing 1 slightly flattened seed with a violet-coloured seed covering (aril).
Habitat	Occurs in secondary and lowland forests. <1&2>
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage

SGMP Treatment

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance

Well-Drained Soils, Moist Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Recticulate
Foliar Margin	Serrate / Toothed
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	Green

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Inflorescence Type	Panicle

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Sticky
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type

References

References	<1> Gardner, S., Sidisunthorn, P. & Chayamarit, K. (2016). Forest Trees of Southern Thailand, vol. 2, pp. 800. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. <2> Van Welzen, P.C. & Chayamarit, K. (2007). Euphorbiaceae. Flora of Thailand, vol. 8(2), pp. 305-592. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

References

<1> Gardner, S., Sidisunthorn, P. & Chayamarit, K. (2016). Forest Trees of Southern Thailand, vol. 2, pp. 800. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

<2> Van Welzen, P.C. & Chayamarit, K. (2007). Euphorbiaceae. Flora of Thailand, vol. 8(2), pp. 305-592. Bangkok: The Forest Herbarium, Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1945
Species ID	3237
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.