Sounds like Macarena..

Is this the Macaranga or the Mallotus?

The Macaranga is a common tree found in disturbed forests areas. You'll spot it along the roads and many 'open' areas in Tanarimba. There are about 27 species of this tree in Malaysia and commonly known as Mahang in Malay.

One noticeable feature of this tree is the large sized heart-shaped leaves (smaller in adult trees).

Some species are ant-plants, basically with twigs becoming hosts to ants and other insects.

The Macaranga has tiny flowers, male and female on different trees. They are quick growing, evergreen and soft-wooded and will grow to about 70 feet.

The Mallotus is very alike the Macaranga except that it doesn't have gum in this bark. The main feature of the Mallotus is where the leaves have whitish undersides. As the wind sweeps through, this tree gives a contrasting two-toned look. The Mallotus is never ant-inhabited.

And then there is this interesting tree (pix below). Identification yet to be confirmed -but I think it is the Firmiana malayana. - Bullock's Eyes or Mata Lembu! It flowers twice a year in these parts... around February and July or August. And when it does, it usually drops all its leaves, leaving the tree with only the vivid orange flowers..... beautiful... Up to 70 feet in height and often grows at river banks.

(quoted from EJH Corner's Wayside Trees of Malaya)

Our gardens...please don't leave them empty!

At first, it was all covered with trees, bamboo, lalang, undergrowth and other plants which we think is of no use. Who knows what lurks beneath the vegetation - snakes? leeches? And so, we build our house at one corner and grass-up the rest of the land. OK, we must have a bit of shade, so we plant a few trees here and there, those with nice coloured leaves - looks unusual. The kids can roam freely without risk of being bitten by some unidentified critter. The gardener should have an easier time. But - what happened to the Jungle look? The look that is so unique to Tanarimba? Well, the next lot has not been touched so I get the jungle look courtesy of my neighbours.

Really, if that is what we have in mind then I think we have misunderstood the concept of Tanarimba completely.

Of course, it is sometimes inevitable that some trees will have to go because they were in the way of the road or it was old and there is the imminent danger of it toppling over and on top of the roof. But I think we should take every effort to replant the land with local indigenous rainforest trees - not the ornamental imported from China with purple coloured leaves that no one has ever seen before type of trees, mind you. I think we owe it to ourselves and our neighbours to retain as much as possible the original look and feel of the place. Like what this neighbour on the right has done - "about 500 new tree saplings in the ground to-date"

And so with the right look, our property blends in nicely, maintains the special-ness of Tanarimba... so please don't leave your garden empty... You with me on this?