Macaranga tanarius

It is a shrub or bushy tree, sometimes reaching 12 metres tall and with a stem diameter of 40 cm. The trunk is short and crooked, bark being grey-brown, with bumps and irregularities. The branchlets are smooth, bluish grey with prominent leaf scars. Leaves are alternate, and round with a tip, 8 to 23 cm long, greyish or white on the underside. It has prominent leaf stalks 8 to 20 cm long which connect within the leaf itself. Nine main veins radiate from the leaf stalk, easily noticed on the upper and lower leaf side. Yellow-green flowers form on panicles in the months of October to January (in New South Wales). Female and male flowers grow on different trees. The fruit is a prickly three-celled yellow capsule, 9 mm in diameter, maturing in January to February (in New South Wales). There is one black seed in each of the cells. Germination from fresh seed occurs without difficulty. Cuttings strike well. ==Uses==

An attractive ornamental tree with interesting leaves. Also well regarded by bush regenerators to provide shade for juvenile trees. Its bark contains tannins that are used as a colorant: it is used to dye nets, mats, as a kind of house paint, or as a leather preservative in tanning. In the Philippines, particularly in the Ilocos Region and Apayao, the tree locally known as samak is widely used in producing traditional basi (a sugarcane-based rum) and local vinegar. Various parts of the tree, including its dried leaves, bark, fruits, and flowers, are used as fermenting, coloring, and flavoring agents during the fermentation process. == Gallery ==

Image:Macaranga tanarius foliage and flowers.jpg|Macaranga tanarius - foliage and flowers. File:血桐 20190422201437 01.jpg|Bract.The flower of Macaranga tanarius has no petals. ==References==