How to use the spot-characters: This list of spot-characters provides a means of quickly identifying plant specimens. For each character, the species that have this trait are mentioned (clicking on the species names will take you to their illustrated descriptions). Based on a combination of spot-characters you can key out your plant specimen, or at least restrict the number of choices left.
Important: This list of spot-characters is based on (semi-) adult plants only, i.e., they might not work for seedlings.
Plants with tufted and/or stellate hairs
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus
floribundus; Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus
paniculatus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Twigs and/or petioles with long (> 1 mm) hairs
Macaranga depressa;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga gigantea;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga pearsonii;
Macaranga pentaloba;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus stipularis
Hollow twigs (usually ant inhabited)
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga bancana;
Macaranga
beccariana;
Macaranga caladiifolia;
Macaranga calcicola;
Macaranga
glandibracteolata;
Macaranga
havilandii;
Macaranga hosei,
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga hypoleuca;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga kingii;
Macaranga lamellata;
Macaranga motleyana;
Macaranga pearsonii;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga
puncticulata;
Macaranga recurvata;
Macaranga rufescens;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga umbrosa;
Macaranga velutina;
Macaranga
velutiniflora;
Macaranga winkleri;
Macaranga
winkleriella
Twigs with large ant holes (ca. 2 mm diameter)
Macaranga caladiifolia;
Macaranga
puncticulata
Stipules recurved
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga bancana;
Macaranga calcicola;
Macaranga
glandibracteolata;
Macaranga
havilandii;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga kingii;
Macaranga lamellata;
Macaranga motleyana;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga umbrosa;
Macaranga velutina;
Macaranga
velutiniflora;
Macaranga
winkleriella
Stipules needle-like, crowded at twig apex
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima
Stipules with fimbriate margin
Mallotus
subpeltatus
Leaves opposite
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus
leucodermis; Mallotus
miquelianus; Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis; Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
One leaf of each opposite leaf pair reduced to a scale
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus stipularis
Leaves placed in one plane along the twig
Mallotus eucaustus
Leaves peltate
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga amissa;
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga ashtonii;
Macaranga bancana;
Macaranga
beccariana;
Macaranga caladiifolia;
Macaranga calcicola;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga depressa;
Macaranga
didymocarpa;
Macaranga endertii:
Macaranga gigantea;
Macaranga
glandibracteolata;
Macaranga
havilandii;
Macaranga hosei;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga hypoleuca;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga kingii;
Macaranga lamellata;
Macaranga motleyana;
Macaranga
pachyphylla;
Macaranga pearsonii;
Macaranga pentaloba;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga pruinosa;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga
puncticulata;
Macaranga recurvata;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga rufescens;
Macaranga
sarcocarpa;
Macaranga spathicalyx;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Macaranga tanarius;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga umbrosa;
Macaranga velutina;
Macaranga
velutiniflora;
Macaranga winkleri;
Macaranga
winkleriella;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius
Leaves penniveined (use non-reduced leaves when opposite)
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis; Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus stipularis
Leaves tripliveined (use non-reduced leaves when opposite)
Macaranga amissa;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga hosei;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga pearsonii;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga rufescens;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus
paniculatus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Leaves lobed
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga ashtonii;
Macaranga bancana;
Macaranga
beccariana;
Macaranga calcicola;
Macaranga depressa;
Macaranga gigantea;
Macaranga
glandibracteolata;
Macaranga
havilandii;
Macaranga hosei;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga hypoleuca;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga kingii;
Macaranga motleyana;
Macaranga pearsonii;
Macaranga pentaloba;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga pruinosa;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga rufescens;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Macaranga umbrosa;
Macaranga velutina;
Macaranga
velutiniflora;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
paniculatus
Leaves 5-7-lobed in mature plants
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga depressa;
Macaranga
havilandii;
Macaranga kingii;
Macaranga pentaloba
Leaves strongly bullate
Macaranga
sarcocarpa
Leaf base broadly cordate (peltate leaves included)
Macaranga amissa;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga gigantea;
Macaranga hosei;
Macaranga hypoleuca;
Macaranga
pachyphylla;
Macaranga pearsonii;
Macaranga pruinosa;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga rufescens;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius
Leaf base with conspicuously enlarged conical glands compared with glands
along the apical margin
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga pearsonii
Leaf base conspicuously asymmetrical
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus stipularis
Leaf upper surface completely hairy and feeling sand-paper like
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga
trichocarpa
Leaf upper surface gland dotted
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus sumatranus
Leaf upper surface with basal nectary glands
Macaranga amissa;
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga spathicalyx;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus
paniculatus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Leaf upper surface with more than two basal nectary glands
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga spathicalyx;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius
Leaf lower surface with domatia
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
wrayi
Leaf secondary veins not ending in the margin
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga
didymocarpa;
Macaranga endertii;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga
pachyphylla;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus
paniculatus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Staminate inflorescences not branched
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus
floribundus; Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis; Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Staminate inflorescence with one flower per bracteole
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus
Staminate bracteoles with fimbriate margin
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga
beccariana;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga
didymocarpa;
Macaranga gigantea;
Macaranga
glandibracteolata;
Macaranga hosei;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga hypoleuca;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga motleyana;
Macaranga pearsonii;
(Macaranga pentaloba);
Macaranga pruinosa;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga
puncticulata;
Macaranga recurvata;
Macaranga rufescens;
Macaranga tanarius;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Macaranga winkleri;
Macaranga
winkleriella
Pistillate inflorescences not branched
Macaranga amissa;
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga caladiifolia;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga
pachyphylla;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga
puncticulata;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga recurvata;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
sarcocarpa; Macaranga
strigosissima;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus repandus;
Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Pistillate inflorescence with only one terminal fruit developing
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus
Pistillate inflorescences with enlarged bracts which completely encompass the fruit
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga
strigosissima
Fruits 2-locular
Macaranga amissa;
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga conifera;
Macaranga costulata;
Macaranga
didymocarpa;
Macaranga endertii:
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga gigantea;
Macaranga hosei;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga pearsonii;
(Macaranga pentaloba);
Macaranga praestans;
Macaranga pruinosa;
Macaranga puberula;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga recurvata;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga rufescens;
Macaranga spathicalyx;
Macaranga
strigosissima;
Macaranga tanarius;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Macaranga winkleri;
Macaranga
winkleriella;
Mallotus repandus
Fruits 3-locular
Macaranga
beccariana;
Macaranga caladiifolia;
Macaranga hypoleuca;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus
leucodermis;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus muticus;
Mallotus
paniculatus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis;
Mallotus philippensis;
Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus;
Mallotus sumatranus;
Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Fruits > 3-locular
Macaranga aëtheadenia;
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga ashtonii;
Macaranga bancana;
Macaranga calcicola;
Macaranga depressa;
Macaranga
glandibracteolata;
Macaranga
havilandii;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga kingii;
Macaranga lamellata;
Macaranga motleyana;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga
puncticulata;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga
sarcocarpa;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga umbrosa;
Macaranga velutina;
Macaranga
velutiniflora
Fruits with spines
Macaranga
auriculata;
Macaranga baccaureifolia;
Macaranga
brevipetiolata;
Macaranga fulva;
Macaranga
kinabaluensis;
Macaranga
lowii var. lowii;
Macaranga lowii var. kostermansii;
Macaranga rarispina;
Macaranga
repando-dentata;
Macaranga spathicalyx;
Macaranga tanarius;
Macaranga
trichocarpa;
Mallotus brachythyrsus;
Mallotus dispar;
Mallotus eucaustus;
Mallotus
floribundus;
Mallotus griffithianus;
Mallotus havilandii;
Mallotus korthalsii;
Mallotus lackeyi;
Mallotus macrostachyus;
Mallotus
miquelianus;
Mallotus mollissimus;
Mallotus
moritzianus;
Mallotus
paniculatus;
Mallotus peltatus;
Mallotus
penangensis; Mallotus resinosus;
Mallotus stipularis;
Mallotus
subpeltatus; Mallotus
tiliifolius; Mallotus
wrayi
Fruits with long (horn- or spine-like) appendages, equal to the number of
carpels
Macaranga angulata;
Macaranga depressa;
Macaranga hullettii;
Macaranga
indistincta;
Macaranga
petanostyla;
Macaranga rostrata;
Macaranga
trachyphylla;
Macaranga
velutiniflora;
Mallotus sumatranus