Blue blade tree
Mallotus floribundus

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 2-10 m high. The small branches are slender and red. The leaves are alternate and oval. They are 12-19 cm long by 9-15 cm wide. The male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are about 1.5 cm wide.

There are about 140 Mallotus species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in secondary and flooded forests. It grows in tropical evergreen broad-leaved forests. It grows in hilly country below 500-600 m altitude. It needs well-drained soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

A tea drink is made from the leaves.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Ba bet hoa nhieu, Pohon malotusi wangi, Pohon maya-maya, Taung-kado

Synonyms

Adisca floribunda Blume; Coelodiscus annamiticus (Kuntze) Gagnep.; Mallotus amentiformis Müll.Arg.; Mallotus annamiticus Kuntze; Mallotus floribundus var. genuinus Pax & K. Hoffm.; Mallotus floribundus var. pilosus Pax & K. Hoffm.; Mappa floribunda (Blume) Zoll. & Moritzi; Ricinus floribundus Reinw. ex Müll.Arg.; Ricinus tanarius Lour.; Rottlera floribunda (Blume) Hassk.;