Malotus phillippinensis - Red Kamala
Family: Euphorbiaceae

Fast growing tree.
Yellowish flowers and bright red powdery fruits used as a dye for silk.
Hardy.
The species name refers to the type specimen being collected in the Philippines, where it is known as banato.
A bush to small or medium-sized tree, up to 25 metres tall and a trunk diameter of 40 cm.
The trunk is fluted and irregular at the base.
The grey bark is smooth, or with occasional wrinkles or corky bumps.
Small branches are greyish brown in colour, with rusty covered small hairs towards the end. Leaf scars evident.
Yellow-brown flowers form on racemes.
Racemes up to 6 cm long.
Male and female flowers grow on separate trees.
New South Wales flowering period is from June to November.
Fruit may appear at any time of the year, three months or so after flowering.
Usually a three lobed capsule, 6 to 9 mm broad, covered in red powdery substance.
This is soluble in alcohol, which produces a golden red dye suited to colouring of silk and wool.
One small black globular seed in each of the three parts of the capsule, seeds 2 to 3 mm in diameter.