It is one of the most widely occurring early successional woody species in Sri Lanka, specially in low country wet zone.

[1] Some of the many common names include kenda - කැන්ද or kanda in Sri Lanka and chandada in India.

Yellow-green flowers occur in long panicles in leaf axils in the months of January to February.

Ecophysiological studies indicate that Macaranga peltata shows a combination of high quantum use efficiency of photosynthetic system (Fv/Fm) and relative growth rates under higher light conditions, similar in pattern to other pioneer species such as Mallotus tetracoccus.

[5] Today the major use of Macranga peltata is for making wooden pencils and in the plywood industry.