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 in Samoa.
Description Trema cannabina is a small tree growing to around tall, with a trunk diameter of up to . 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 long and wide. The inflorescences are up to long; the white flowers quite small, with tepals measuring about long. Fruits are red/brown drupes about diameter.
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 .
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.
Infraspecies , Plants of the World Online accepts two varieties: T. cannabina var. cannabina T. cannabina var. dielsianum (Hand.-Mazz.) C.J.Chen
Uses Fibre from this plant is used to make paper and rope, while soap and lubricants are made from the seed oil.
References
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