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Useful Tropical Plants

Macaranga grandifolia

(Blanco) Merr.

Euphorbiaceae

+ Synonyms

Croton grandifolius Blanco

Macaranga porteana André

Common Name: Coral Tree

Macaranga grandifolia
Male flowers
Photograph by: Jardin Boricua
Creative Commons License
Macaranga grandifolia Macaranga grandifolia Macaranga grandifolia

General Information

Coral tree is a small, erect tree growing 5 - 10 metres tall. The plant has large leaves, 60 - 100cm in diameter.
The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is widely grown as an ornamental in many parts of the tropics, being especially valued for its red-veined, grandiose leaves[
307
Title
Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
Publication
 
Author
Barwick. M.
Publisher
Thames & Hudson, London
Year
2004
ISBN
0-500-51181-0
Description
A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
].
Rates of habitat loss through logging and shifting cultivation have led to considerable population declines of this species, it has therefore been classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(1998)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

327
Title
Euphorbiaceae of Malesia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/euphorbs/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online resource that is still being developed, it gives detailed botanical descriptions of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae found growing in Malesia (the region from Peninsual Malaysia through Indonesia, the Philippines).

Range

Southeast Asia - Philippines.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Conservation StatusVulnerable
Edibility Rating *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height6.00 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details



A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The leaves, bark and fruit are added to sugar cane juice that is fermented into 'basi', a traditional alcoholic beverage in the Philippines[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Medicinal

A resin obtained from the stems is used as an astringent gargle to treat ulcerated mouths[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-14. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Macaranga+grandifolia>

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