About Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll.Arg.
Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll.Arg. grows as a bush, or a small to medium-sized tree that reaches up to 25 metres in height, with a trunk diameter of up to 40 cm. Its trunk is fluted and irregular at the base. The grey bark is smooth, and may occasionally have wrinkles or corky bumps. Small branches are greyish-brown; their distal ends are covered in rusty-colored fine hairs, and visible leaf scars are present on the branches. Leaves grow opposite one another on the stem, and are ovate to oblong in shape. They measure 4 to 12 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide, with a long pointed tip. The upper leaf surface is green and hairless, while the underside is pale grey. Small red glands are visible on the leaves when viewed with a magnifying glass. Leaf stalks are 2 to 5 cm long, and are somewhat thickened at both ends. The first primary vein on each side of the midrib extends from the leaf base to more than half the leaf's length. Leaf veins are raised and clearly visible on the underside of the leaf. Mallotus philippensis is used to produce yellow dye and herbal remedies. It also produces rottlerin, a potent large conductance potassium channel opener.
