Common Name:

General Information

Macaranga monandra is an evergreen tree with a much-branched, bushy crown; it can grow from 6 - 25 metres tall. The bole is usually spiny, the spines sparse, up to 75mm long and blunt[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It can be used as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland and is also used to provide shade for amenity purposes[].
Macaranga monandra has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Angola.

Habitat

Groundwater secondary forests, sometimes in large stands; common in riverine, lakeside and swamp-edge forests; dense primitive forest in Angola; humus on laterite (probably) in half-shade; at elevations from 350 - 1,525 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Sometimes found wild in moderate shade[].
A fast-growing, light-demanding pioneer species of forest gaps[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A decoction of the stem bark is taken as a galactagogue. The decoction, combined with the bark of Pentaclethra eetveldeana, is taken by women to treat sterility. A bark decoction is drunk to treat dyspnoea. A large amount of bark decoction is drunk in case of threatened abortion. A twig bark decoction is taken to treat intercostal neuralgia[].

Tannins, steroids and terpenes are recorded present in the leaves, bark and roots[].
Hexane and ethyl acetate fractions of the methanol extract of the stem bark showed growth inhibition of different plant fungi: Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporum, Botrytis cinerea, Phomopsis obscurans and Phomopsis viticola. Two active clerodane-type diterpenes were isolated: kolavenic acid and 2-oxo-kolavenic acid. These two compounds showed moderate growth inhibition of Phomopsis viticola and Botrytis cinerea. Isolated from other plants, these compounds also showed cytotoxic and antibacterial activities[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A relatively widespread and a fast-growing pioneer species of forest gaps[]. It has potential for use in forest restoration projects[].

Other Uses

The wood is rather soft and used for general purposes such as timber, boxes, crates and beehives[].
The wood is considered a good fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings.

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