Mallotus discolor

Yellow Kamala
Mallotus discolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Subfamily:	Acalyphoideae
Tribe:	Acalypheae
Genus:	Mallotus
Species:	M. discolor
Binomial name
Mallotus discolor (Benth.)
Synonyms
Rottlera discolor F.Muell. Macaranga mallotoides F.Muell.

Mallotus discolor is an Australian rainforest tree in the spurge family. It is known as the Yellow Kamala, due to the yellowish orange fruit covering, which produces a yellow dye.

Description

A small to medium sized tree, often around 12 metres tall. However, at Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve near Lismore there is a 30 metre tall Yellow Kamala with an 50 cm broad trunk. Another 30 metre tall tree grows at Susan Island Nature Reserve, this individual has a 80 cm broad trunk.^[1] The natural range of distribution is from just west of Coffs Harbour (30° S) in northern New South Wales to Bowen, Queensland (20° S).

Trunk is not buttressed. The bark on older trees may have some cracks and scales. Generally fairly smooth. Small branches slender, green or brown with reddish hairy growth towards the end.

Leaves feature long stems, variable in length but usually between 4 to 10 cm. Leaves alternate on the stem, without leaf teeth, lanceolate or ovate in shape with a long tip. Leaves fairly thin, 4 to 10 cm long. The underside is greyish, upper surface green, almost hairless. Hence the species name discolor meaning two colours.

Flowers, fruit and regeneration

Grey flowers form in November on racemes, 7 to 10 cm long. The fruit matures in January, being a moist capsule with a yellowish orange covering. Capsule around 6 mm in diameter. Fruit eaten by Green Catbird, Lewin's Honeyeater, Grey-headed Flying Fox and others.

Regeneration from fresh seed is erratic, cuttings are an alternative method of regeneration.

Uses

Yellow dye

References

1. ^ Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 9780958943673 page 154

• Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 9780958943673 page 154
• "Mallotus discolor". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Mallotus~discolor. Retrieved 2010-02-28.