Macaranga tanarius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macaranga tanarius |
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| Macaranga tanarius - leaves | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Macaranga
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| Species: |
tanarius
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The Macaranga tanarius is a fascinating plant. You can find it in places like South East Asia, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, and eastern Australia. It's often one of the first plants to grow in rainforest areas that have been disturbed, like after a storm or logging.
It's easy to spot this plant because of its unique round, veiny leaves. In Australia, it naturally grows from the Richmond River in New South Wales all the way up to Cooktown in tropical Queensland.
People call this plant by many different names. Some common ones include parasol leaf tree, blush macaranga, nasturtium tree, David's heart, and heart leaf. These names often describe its heart-shaped or umbrella-like leaves.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Macaranga tanarius can be a large shrub or a bushy tree. It sometimes grows as tall as 12 metres, which is about the height of a three-story building! Its main stem can be as wide as 40 centimetres.
The trunk of the tree is usually short and a bit bent. Its bark is grey-brown and has bumps and rough spots. The smaller branches are smooth and bluish-grey. You can easily see where old leaves used to be because of the clear leaf scars on the branches.
Leaves
The leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the branches. They are round with a pointed tip, almost like a heart shape. Each leaf can be quite large, from 8 to 23 centimetres long. The underside of the leaves is often greyish or white.
A special feature of these leaves is their long stalks, which are 8 to 20 centimetres long. These stalks connect right inside the leaf blade, not just at the edge. If you look closely, you'll see nine main veins spreading out from where the stalk joins the leaf. These veins are easy to see on both the top and bottom of the leaf.
How Does It Grow?
The Macaranga tanarius produces yellow-green flowers. These flowers grow in clusters called panicles. In New South Wales, you can usually see them from October to January.
Interestingly, this tree has separate male and female flowers, and they grow on different trees. So, one tree will have only male flowers, and another will have only female flowers.
Fruit and Seeds
After the flowers, the tree produces a prickly, yellow fruit. This fruit is a capsule, about 9 millimetres wide, and it has three small sections inside. In New South Wales, these fruits ripen in January and February.
Each of the three sections in the fruit holds one black seed. These seeds are quite easy to grow. If you plant fresh seeds, they usually sprout without much trouble. You can also grow new plants from cuttings, which means taking a piece of the stem and planting it.
Uses of the Tree
The Macaranga tanarius is a very attractive tree. People often plant it in gardens because of its interesting leaves. It makes a great ornamental tree, adding a unique look to any landscape.
It's also very helpful for people who work to restore natural bushland. This tree grows quickly and provides good shade. This shade is important for protecting younger, more delicate trees as they start to grow in a disturbed area. It helps them get established and thrive.
Images for kids
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Macaranga tanarius - leaves
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A close-up of the leaves.
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Macaranga tanarius - foliage and flowers
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Unidentified objects on some leaves.
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Fruits.
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Bract.The flower of Macaranga tanarius has no petals.
