Macaranga
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| Image:Macaranga tanarius.jpg Macaranga tanarius
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Macaranga acerifolia |
Macaranga is a large genus of Old World tropical trees of the family Euphorbiaceae and the only genus in the subtribe Macaranginae. Native to Africa, Asia and the South Pacific, the genus comprises over 300 different species. These plants are noted for being recolonizers, i.e. among the first plants to appear on disturbed ground.
Macaranga species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Endoclita malabaricus.
Macaranga are morphologically adapted with thin stem walls to create domatia (housing) for an ant species from the genus Crematogaster, who in turn protects its plant against herbivores. <ref>Heil, M., B. Fiala, K. E. Linsenmair, G. Zotz, P. Menke, and U. Maschwitz. 1997. Food body production in Macaranga triloba (Euphorbiaceae): A plant investment in anti-herbivore defense via symbiotic ant partners. Journal of Ecology 85:847 – 861.</ref>
[edit] Use
Macaranga gum, a crimson resin is obtained from Macaranga indica.
[edit] Synonymy
- Adenoceras Rchb.f. & Zoll. ex Baill.
- Mappa A.Juss
- Mecostylis Kurz ex Teijsm. & Binn.
- Pachystemon Blume
- Panopia Noronha ex Thouars
- Phocea Seem.
- Tanarius Kuntze
[edit] References
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