Trema cannabina

Trema cannabina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Cannabaceae
Genus: Trema
Species:
T. cannabina
Binomial name
Trema cannabina
Synonyms
32 synonyms
  • for var. cannabina[2]
    • Celtis microphylla Zipp. ex Blume
    • Celtis rostrata Zipp. ex Span.
    • Celtis virgata Roxb.
    • Sponia carinata (Blume) Miq.
    • Sponia glabrescens Planch.
    • Sponia morifolia Planch.
    • Sponia pallida (Blume) Miq.
    • Sponia peruviana Klotzsch
    • Sponia pubigera (Blume) Miq.
    • Sponia rostrata Span.
    • Sponia timorensis Decne.
    • Sponia vieillardii Planch.
    • Sponia virgata Planch.
    • Sponia virgata var. major Planch.
    • Trema cannabina var. glabrescens (Planch.) de Wit
    • Trema cannabina var. scabrum (Blume) de Wit
    • Trema carinatum Blume
    • Trema glabrescens (Planch.) Blume
    • Trema morifolium (Planch.) Blume
    • Trema orientale var. viride Lauterb.
    • Trema pallidum Blume
    • Trema pubigerum Blume
    • Trema timorense (Decne.) Blume
    • Trema timorense var. carinatum (Blume) Lauterb.
    • Trema timorense var. pallidum (Blume) Lauterb.
    • Trema timorense var. procerum Blume
    • Trema vieillardii (Planch.) Schltr.
    • Trema virgatum (Planch.) Blume
    • Trema virgatum var. pubigerum (Blume) Lauterb.
    • Trema virgatum var. scabrum Blume
  • for var. dielsianum[3]
    • Trema dielsianum Hand.-Mazz.
    • Trema calcicola S.X.Ren

Trema cannabina is a species of flowering plant in the family Cannabaceae.[4][5] This tree is found in Southeast Asia and Oceania. They are perennial[6] and found in sandy, well drained soil.[7] It also goes by the names of lesser Trema and poison peach, and mãgele in the Samoan language. The plant may release an obnoxious odour.[8]

Description

Trema cannabina grows around 6 metres (20 ft) tall. It can attain a diameter at breast height of up to 30 centimetres (12 in). The flowers are small and white. Fruits are 2 to 3 millimetres (0.079 to 0.118 in) tall and wide. Leaves can range anywhere from 4.3 to 16 centimetres (1.7 to 6.3 in) long and 1.1 to 5.8 centimetres (0.43 to 2.28 in) wide.[7][8]

Habitat

Trema cannabina is native to Southeast Asia and Oceania. It can grown in lowland and upland forests from sea level to an altitude around 950 metres (3,120 ft).[8]

Infraspecies

As of January 2026, Plants of the World Online accepts two varieties:

  • T. cannabina var. cannabina[2]
  • T. cannabina var. dielsianum (Hand.-Mazz.) C.J.Chen[3]

Uses

Trema cannabina can be used in papers and ropes using the fibres. Using the oil it makes, the fern can also be used to make soaps and lubricants.[7] It may have medicinal purposes.[8]

References

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International. "Trema Cannabinum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  2. ^ a b "Trema cannabina var. cannabina". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b "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.
  4. ^ "Trema cannabina Lour". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  5. ^ "Trema cannabina Lour". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
  6. ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  7. ^ a b c "Trema cannabina". Useful Tropical Plants. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  8. ^ a b c d 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.
  • Data related to Trema cannabina at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Trema cannabina at Wikimedia Commons
  • View a map of recorded sightings of Trema cannabina at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
  • See images of Trema cannabina on Flickriver