In situ Macaranga umbrosa S.J.Davies – Sarawak/Borneo – around 400m ASL.

Macaranga umbrosa is endemic to Borneo; documented records exist from Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah and Central Kalimantan. It is a shade-tolerant tree found in relatively intact forests, mainly primary forests, and typically grows on clays or silts. It remains in the undergrowth and reaches a maximum diameter at breast height of around 15 cm. The specific epithet umbrosa means ‘shady’ or ‘growing in the shade’ in botanical Latin and, according to the species description, refers to its preferred habitat.

The Penan use this plant to dye rattan-works, which is then used to make sleeping mats or various carrying equipment (e.g. ajat).

Note: Stuart Davies and Peter Boyce assisted with the species identification, and I would like to express my thanks to them here.