Common Name:

General Information

Macaranga tanarius is a fast-growing, dioecious shrub or small tree growing from 4 - 15 metres tall. It has a straight bole, up to 30cm in diameter[, , , ].
A multipurpose tree, it is harvested from the wild for its range of uses. The tree is sometimes grown as a pioneer in reforestation projects, and is also sometimes cultivated as an ornamental[].
Macaranga tanarius 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

E. Asia - China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Solomon Isles, Vanuatu.

Habitat

Usually in very disturbed vegetation like scrub or abandoned shifting cultivation areas, often along roads, or along streams, at elevations up to 2,100 metres[]. Maritime forests in southern China[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,100 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 35°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about 1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 700 - 1,300mm[]. The plant is found growing in Australia in areas with a mean annual rainfall in the range 950 - 4,000mm, with a distinct dry season[].
Prefers a sunny position[]. Grows in the wild on clay loam, sandy, and sandstone soils[]. Prefers a well-drained soil[]. Plants are tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.5[]. Tolerant of salt-laden coastal winds[].
The plant has escaped from cultivation in some areas where it is cultivated[]. It has been classed as 'invasive' in Hawaii[].
A fast-growing but short-lived tree, seldom surviving beyond 15 years[, ].
Plants respond very well to coppicing and pollarding[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

The fruits are added to palm juice when it is boiled down into crystals, improving the quality of the sugar produced[].

The bark and leaves, occasionally the fruits, are widely used in the Philippines in the preparation of a very popular fermented drink called 'basi', whch is made from sugarcane[, ].
Basi is made from sugar-cane juice to which the bark and leaves, and sometimes other ingredients, are added. There are two qualities of basi: basi-nuang (carabao basi), which is harsh to the taste, strong, astringent, and not sweet; and basibabae, which has a soft, sweet taste. The latter is made from the more concentrated syrup[].
The juice is heated in open pans until it reaches a certain degree of concentration, which varies according to the quality of basi desired. When boiling begins, crushed leaves or powdered bark of binuiiga is added to the juice. The scum is removed while the mixture boils. When a desired concentration has been reached, the syrup is poured into large jars (tinajas) and allowed to cool. On the following day, a considerable quantity of crushed binuiiga leaves is put into the jars, which are then tightly covered. After two or three months, the crushed leaves are replaced by powdered bark, which is supposed to improve the flavor of the basi. The amount of bark used influences the quality very greatly, as increasing the quantity makes the basi more piquant and intoxicating. Aging is said to improve the quality - this is
frequently done in jars, which are buried underground[].
Other ingredients are sometimes added to the basi. The addition of the husks of cacao fruit or coffee beans makes the drink slightly bitter, powdered pepper gives it a pungent taste, while the bark of Eugenia cinnini is said to make it more astringent[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark is used as a treatment against dysentery and haemoptysis[, ].

The root is emetic[]. A decoction is used as a treatment against fever and haemoptysis[, , ].

The leaves of this species are regarded as a contraceptive[].
The powdered leaves are used in poultices for healing wounds[].

The latex from stems is applied to toothaches[]. The latex is sticky and waterproof, it has been used as a sutureless stitching for deep cuts[].

The stem and leaves contain diterpenoids (e.g. Macarangonol), triterpenoids (e.g. Friedelin, ß-amyrin), and steroids (e.g. Sitosterol)[].
The bark contains ellagic acid, a tannin constituent[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant, it is favoured by disturbance and grows in gaps in well developed rain forest or on the margins of well developed rain forest. It is a typical regrowth species on the coastal lowlands[]. It has been recommended as a pioneer species to provide shade and shelter in order to promote natural regeneration on deforested land[].

Other Uses

A gum is obtained from the bark of the tree. It is used as a glue, particularly for joining together parts of musical instruments such as guitars and violins. The bark is tapped by V-shaped incisions, and the sap collected and used shortly afterwards. It is said that if the sap is allowed to stand until it becomes sticky, it is worthless for use as an adhesive[, ].

The bark contains tannin, which is used for toughening fishing nets. Nets dipped in a decoction of the bark will stand the influence of seawater for a considerable amount of time[]. The bark only contains about 2% tannin, but this is enough for preserving ropes[].

The leaves have been reported to dye matting black, like other Euphorbiaceae[].

The bark is used for making food containers[].

The wood is soft and light[]. It is not durable or resistant to termite attack but is fairly tough[]. The grain is straight or only shallowly interlocked, with a moderately fine and even texture[]. The wood is not much used, but pepper growers in southern Sumatra use it to make temporary ladders to harvest their crop and shoes are made from it in the Philippines[, ].
Macaranga yields a high-quality pulp and produces high-quality particleboard[].
Good firewood is provided by Macaranga tanarius[].

Propagation

Seed - when sown with the adhering pulp, the seed have a germination rate of about 50% in 24 - 72 (max. 265) days[, ].
Seed viability is reputed to be poor in ambient conditions[].

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