General Information
Mallotus paniculatus can be easily identified from its leaves. They are ovate with pointed tips and white undersides, and long petioles. The leaf margins that are simple to 3-lobed. The base of the leaves has a paired of glands.
Commonly known as The Turn-in-the-Wind tree. It is very common tree at secondary forest edges. The paired glands on the leaf is known to secrete sugary fluid which attract ants; a possible mutualistic relationship (with the ant protecting the plant against herbivorus insects in return).
Mallotus paniculatus is a fast-growing shrub or small tree growing up to 15 metres tall. The bole can be unbranched for up to 4 metres and around 24cm in diameter. Can be found in mainly lowland areas in the tropics of elevations up to 1,800 metres. Found in the wild on a wide range of soils, including basalt, clay, granite, laterite, limestone, loam, rocky, sandy, ultrabasic, and volcanic. Distributed widely in East Asia - China, India, through southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Australia.
Basic info of Mollutus paniculatus
|
Order |
: Malpighiales |
|
Family |
: Euphorbiaceae |
|
Genus |
: Mallotus |
|
Species |
: Mollutus
paniculatus |
|
Common
name |
: Balik Angin,
The Turn-in-the-Wind tree |
|
Synonyms |
: Mallotus
paniculata ( Lam. ) A. Juss. |
