Trema cannabina
| Trema cannabina | |
|---|---|
 | |
| With fruit | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Cannabaceae |
| Genus: | Trema |
| Species: | T. cannabina |
| Binomial name | |
| Trema cannabina | |
| Synonyms | |
|
32 synonyms
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Trema cannabina is a species of flowering plant in the family Cannabaceae, native to regions from India to the western Pacific. It is commonly known as lesser trema and poison peach, and as mãgele in Samoa.
Description
Trema cannabina is a small tree growing to around 6 m (20 ft) tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 30 cm (12 in). The bark is smooth and emits an unpleasant odour when cut. The leaves are ovate, that is, broad at the base and narrowing to a point at the tip. They grow up to 16 cm (6 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide. The inflorescences are up to 2.5 cm (1 in) long; the white flowers quite small, with tepals measuring about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long. Fruits are red/brown drupes about 3 mm (0.12 in) diameter.[6][7]
Distribution and habitat
It grows in well-lit positions in lowland and upland forests, and is favoured by disturbance. It can be found from sea level to an altitude of around 1,100 m (3,600 ft).[6][7]
It occurs from Nepal and India, through mainland Asia to Japan, south through Indonesia and the Philippines to northern Australia and to islands of the western Pacific.[2][6][7]
Infraspecies
As of January 2026, Plants of the World Online accepts two varieties:
Uses
Fibre from this plant is used to make paper and rope, while soap and lubricants are made from the seed oil.[7]
References
- ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Trema cannabinum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T145364576A145369527. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T145364576A145369527.en.
- 1 2 "Trema cannabina Lour". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ↑ "Trema cannabinum Lour". Catalogue of Life (Version 2026-04-07 XR). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Trema cannabina var. cannabina". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- 1 2 "Trema cannabina var. dielsianum (Hand.-Mazz.) C.J.Chen". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- 1 2 3 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Trema cannabina". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 "Trema cannabina Loureiro, Fl. Cochinch. 2: 563. 1790". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
External links
- Observations of this species on iNaturalist
- Map of recorded occurrences of this species at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
- Images of this species on Flickriver.com