Elephant's Ear, Common Macaranga
Common Name
:
Elephant's Ear, Common Macaranga
Chinese Name
:
血桐
Scientific Name
:
Macaranga tanarius var. tomentosa
Classification
:
Evergreen
Origin
:
Guangdong, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asia
Flowering Period
:
April to May in Hong Kong
About
One of Hong Kong's native plant species, Elephant's Ear grows rapidly and easily adapts to various habitats. While its natural habitats are found in low-altitude forests and coastal regions, it is also cultivated in gardens and is often seen on open, abandoned land in Hong Kong's urban areas. Its Chinese names, Blood Macaranga and Bleeding Macaranga, reference the sap that the plant excretes when cut. This sap turns reddish-brown upon oxidation, giving the appearance that the plant is bleeding.
Source: Greening, Landscape & Tree Management Section Development Bureau (greening.gov.hk)