Genus Macaranga, The

Macaranga is a genus in the family Euphorbiaceae, comprising trees, treelets and some lianas. Many are conspicuous large-leafed pioneers of disturbed habitats, and some species have ant associations. There are 257 species, of which 21 are newly described here. The genus is most diverse in South East Asia and New Guinea but also occurs in Africa and Madagascar, continental Asia, the Pacific Islands and Australia. Identification of different species is possible with the help of either regional keys or keys within informal species groups.