Trees or shrubs, mostly dioecious (some forms of M. andamanica monoecious); indumentum usually of simple hairs and whitish to reddish glandular scales. Leaves alternate; stipules small or enlarged; petiole insertion often peltate; leaf blade undivided or lobed, base with glands, abaxially glandular-scaly; venation palmate or pinnate. Inflorescences axillary, sometimes at old leafless nodes, unbranched, branched, or females capitate or 1-flowered, unisexual, very rarely bisexual (M. andamanica); bracts sometimes with glands. Flowers 1 or few to many per bract. Male flowers: calyx closed in bud; sepals 2-4, valvate; petals absent; disk absent; stamens [1-]2-22[-30]; filaments free or shortly connate; anthers 3- or 4-locellate; pistillode absent. Female flowers: calyx cup-shaped or urceolate, apex denticulate or lobed, sometimes truncate, caducous or persistent; petals absent; disk absent; ovary 1-6-locular; styles simple, free, rarely shortly connate, stigmatic surface papillose. Fruit a capsule, (1 or)2- or 3(-6)-locular, smooth or spiny, often glandular scaly. Seeds subglobose, smooth.

This account has been revised in line with the posthumous "Prodromus of Macaranga" of T. C. Whitmore, which was in press at the time of writing.

About 260 species: Africa, tropical Asia, Australia, Madagascar, Pacific islands; ten species in China.

(Authors: Qiu Huaxing (丘华兴 Chiu Hua-hsing, Kiu Hua-shing, Kiu Hua-xing); Michael G. Gilbert)