Mallotus japonicus, a
deciduous tree with gray-brown barks that grows up to 15m in height
and 50cm across, occurs mainly in denuded lands, logged-off lands,
or forest fringes. Leaves are alternate, 7-20cm long, 5-14cm wide,
in the shape of an oval or broad oval, with margins entire or wavy,
occasionally cleft shallowly in three. Petioles measure 5-20cm in
length, tingeing red, and new leaves give a red color. This species
is dioecious: Branch tips emerge panicles with no petals; male
flowers set themselves beside bracts, with light yellow calyxes
cleft in 3-4. Female flowers do themselves beside bracts with
calyxes cut into 2-3. Bloom time: June-July. |