Elephant’s Ear is a native evergreen tree, naturally found in coastal lowland shrublands and secondary forests, and commonly planted as urban greening tree. Its leaves shape like shields, and resemble flapping elephants’ ears as they sway in the wind, hence its English common name.

When a branch of Elephant’s Ear is broken, transparent sap seeps out from the wound; upon contact with air, however, the sap rapidly coagulates and oxidises into a reddish-brown colour, seeming to be bleeding and scabbing. This is a defensive mechanism used by the tree to seal its wounds, and is also the origin of its Chinese name “Blood Macaranga” (血桐).

During the hot summer, when passing under an Elephant’s Ear tree, try to look up at the undersides of the leaves. You may be able to find numerous Mallotus Shield Bugs gathering beneath them, busily feeding on the sap!