About Macaranga capensis (Baill.) Sim
Macaranga capensis (Baill.) Sim is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It is a tree native to sub-Saharan Africa. Its native range extends through eastern and southern Africa from southern Ethiopia to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, with a separate outlier population located in Gabon, in west-central Africa. Macaranga capensis is a medium to large deciduous tree, usually growing 4.5 to 18 metres (15 to 59 ft) tall, and occasionally reaching heights of up to 25 metres (82 ft). It has a rounded, spreading crown, and typically grows a straight bole. The trunk and branches are covered in short spines. Its leaves are large, shiny, and dark green, shaped ovate to triangular-ovate. They measure 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) long by 80–120 mm (3.1–4.7 in) wide, with a short drip-tip at the apex. Its flowers grow in clusters made up of small creamy white or yellow blooms. It most commonly grows in evergreen forests and along stream banks. This tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, as well as for local medicinal uses. It is also planted as a shade tree and as an ornamental garden tree.
