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Trema orientale

(L.) Blume (1856)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Rosales Family: Cannabaceae Genus: Trema

charcoal tree, gunpowder tree

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Trees to 3–36 m tall.

Stems: Trunk ± buttressed, densely pubescent with appressed to erect, silvery, glaucous, or grayish hairs and short, multicellular, glandular hairs, branches spreading and drooping.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, distichous. Blades ovate to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, 6–19 cm long, 1.5–7(–10) cm wide. Apex acute to acuminate-caudate. Base asymmetrical, cordate, rounded, or occasionally truncate. Upper surfaces sparsely to strongly scabrid with pustulate–based hairs; lower surfaces densely tomentose with silvery appressed, unicellular hairs and shorter, multicellular, glandular hairs; blades coriaceous, often rigid and brittle. Margins serrate to denticulate. Pinnately veined and tripliveined at base. Petioles 0.7–1.8 cm long. Stipules distinct, linear–lanceolate, ca.5–7 mm long, enclosing the terminal buds.

Flowers: Flowers of different sexes borne on separate branches in a branched panicle or thyrse; staminate flowers 20–100; pistillate flowers 5–15; staminate flowers in inflorescences up to 2.5–5 cm long; pistillate flowers in inflorescences 1–2.5 cm long; bracts minute, ovate, 2–3 mm long. Flowers unisexual (and the plants monoecious), densely pubescent. Calyx of 5 sepals, induplicate in bud, staminate flowers sepals ca.1.5–2 mm long; pistillate flowers sepals ca. 1–1.5 mm long. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens introrse, equal in number to tepals, inserted at base of sepals; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits; staminodes absent in pistillate flowers. Ovary superior (pistillate flowers), slightly compressed, 2-carpellate, 1-celled, present but nonfunctional in staminate flowers; ovule pendulous from apex; styles 2, the inner face stigmatic.

Fruit: Drupes black at maturity; 3–5 mm long; ovoid; slightly compressed; glabrous. Seeds broadly ovoid; ± compressed; 2-5 mm in diam.

Ploidy: 2n = 20; 40

Habitat: Disturbed mesic forest; diverse mesic forest.

Elevation Range: 30–800 m.

Historical Distribution

Synonyms (61)

Ceanothus leschenaultii DC. (1825)
Celtis commersonii Brongn. (1834)
Celtis glomerata Hochst. (1845)
Celtis guineensis Schumach. & Thonn. (1827)
Celtis guineensis var. parvifolia Schumach. (1827)
Celtis ituriensis De Wild. (1921)
Celtis laeta Salisb. (1796)
Celtis madagascariensis Bojer (1837)
Celtis orientalis L. (1753)
Celtis rigida Blume (1826)
Colubrina leschenaultii (DC.) G.Don (1832)
Sponia affinis Planch. (1848)
Sponia africana Planch. (1848)
Sponia amboinensis (Misapplied)
Sponia andaresa Comm. ex Lam. (1797)
Sponia argentea Planch. (1848)
Sponia bracteolata Hochst. (1845)
Sponia commersonii Decne. ex Planch. (1848)
Sponia glomerata Hochst. (1845)
Sponia guineensis (Schumach. & Thonn.) Planch. (1873)
Sponia hochstetteri Planch. (1873)
Sponia lucida Hassk. (1842)
Sponia nitens Hook.f. ex Planch. (1848)
Sponia orientalis (L.) Decne. ex Planch. (1848)
Sponia orientalis var. affinis (Planch.) Baker (1877)
Sponia orientalis var. asperata Solms ex Schweinf. (1867)
Sponia orientalis var. commersonii (Decne. ex Planch.) Baker (1877)
Sponia rigida (Blume) Decne. ex Planch. (1848)
Sponia scaberrima Miq. (1859)
Sponia strigosa Planch. (1848)
Sponia wightii Planch. (1848)
Trema affine (Planch.) Blume (1856)
Trema africanum (Planch.) Blume (1856)
Trema amboinensis (Misapplied)
Trema argenteum (Planch.) Blume (1856)
Trema bracteolatum (Hochst.) Blume (1856)
Trema burmanni Blume (1856)
Trema cannabina (Misapplied)
Trema commersonii (Decne. ex Planch.) Blume (1856)
Trema glomeratum (Hochst.) Blume (1856)
Trema grevei Baill. (1895)
Trema griseum Baker (1883)
Trema guineense (Schumach. & Thonn.) Ficalho (1884)
Trema guineense f. strigosum Büttner (1889)
Trema guineense var. asperatum (Solms ex Schweinf.) Cufod. (1969)
Trema guineense var. hochstetteri (Planch.) Engl. (1895)
Trema guineense var. paucinervium Hauman (1942)
Trema hochstetteri (Planch.) Engl. (1892)
Trema nitens (Hook.f. ex Planch.) Blume (1856)
Trema orientale var. argenteum (Planch.) Lauterb. (1913)
Trema orientale var. bicornis De Wit (1949)
Trema orientale var. rigidum (Blume) Lauterb. (1913)
Trema orientalis
Trema polygama Z.M.Wu & J.Y.Lin (1994)
Trema rigidum (Blume) Blume (1856)
Trema scaberrimum (Miq.) Blume (1856)
Trema sieberi Blume (1856)
Trema strigosum (Planch.) Blume (1856)
Trema tomentosa (Misapplied)
Trema wightii Blume (1856)
Tremma orientalis

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Not in flora
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds
Forestry

Pollinators

Notes

  • (Hillebrand & Lydgate s.n., BISH)
  • 30- 800 m
  • 30-800 m
  • Description digitized by Tiffany Flood
  • Description digitized by Tim
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • Native to tropical Africa, Madagascar, southeastern Asia, Japan, Malesia, Queensland, Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia; in Hawai'i on all of the main islands except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe. Not known in Hawai'i prior to 1870
  • Not known in Hawai'i prior to 1870 (Hillebrand & Lydgate s.n., BISH).-Plate 190

Bibliography

Name Published In: Mus. Bot. 2: 62 (1856)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1296 (K, O, Mo, L, M, H [as T. orientalis]); Staples & Herbst 2005:551 (DESCR); Faccenda, Arthur, et al. 2025:166 (remove L [no evidence of nat.]); IPNI 2025 (spelling change to orientale)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Trema orientale Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 10/14/2016
2 Trema orientale Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 10/6/2015
3 Trema orientale Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum. Sect. 1 - row 8 - tree 1 Preserved_Specimen Tree 70 or 80' tall, small buttress roots, gray bark with lines of prominent lenticells and stretch marks; dbh ~3'. Herbst, D.R. 631 Oahu BISH 1967-10-05
4 Trema orientale Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 10/14/2016
5 Trema orientale Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum. Sect. 1 - row 8 - tree 1 Preserved_Specimen Tree 70 or 80' tall, small buttress roots, gray bark with lines of prominent lenticells and stretch marks; dbh ~3'. Herbst, D.R. 631 Oahu BISH 1967-10-05
6 Trema orientale Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum, just north of Aroid Valley, nearly overhanging road from west bank Preserved_Specimen 30 in. dbh. Ht. 50 ft. Nagata, K.M. 222 Oahu BISH 1967-06-14
7 Trema orientale First part of Kipapa Trail Preserved_Specimen small tree Kerr, M. 53 Oahu BISH 1946-05-19
8 Trema orientale Princeville; along road across from Hanalei Valley lookout Preserved_Specimen Tree of 30' high and 25' across. Leaves dark green above, pale green below. Young stems pale green turning brown Flynn, T.W. 1724 Kauai BISH 1986-05-14
9 Trema orientale Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 10/14/2016
10 Trema orientale Honolulu, Academy of Arts Bldg. lawn Beretania St Preserved_Specimen tree 50' tall Stone, B.C. 1667 Oahu BISH 1957-02-22
11 Trema orientale Moanalua Valley, 5 mi nw. of Honolulu Preserved_Specimen tree 50', 2 ft diam. Little Jr., E.L. 31016 Oahu BISH 1976-08-09
12 Trema orientale Honolulu, Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen tree 10 m tall; corollas white; fruits green Miller, J.S. 7809 Oahu BISH 1992-07-28
13 Trema orientale Near Hwy 11 ca. 23 miles W of Hilo Preserved_Specimen Small tree with smooth, light brown bark, dull foliage, and green flowers with white anthers. Herbst, D.R. 908 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-11
14 Trema orientale Waianae Mts., just below Palikea, ridge running seaward from cabin Preserved_Specimen Tree 8 m tall x 2 dm at base; lvs. dark green, scabrous above Cowan, R.S. 903 Oahu BISH 1948-03-26
15 Trema orientale Near road that leads up to Sacred Falls trail In thicket behind beach. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Oahu BISH 1978-03-21
16 Trema orientale Kau, Pahala, high school ground Preserved_Specimen large tree Bembauer, W. Hawaii BISH 1947-04-14
17 Trema orientale First {makai} S branch of Makamakaole Stream windward lower forest, growing in thicket of Gleichenia linearis, with Bobea elatior, Straussia mariniana, Metrosideros, Acacia, and Aleurites Preserved_Specimen Hatheway, W.H. 455 Maui BISH 1950-11-28
18 Trema orientale Honokahau Drainage Basin Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 395 Maui BISH 1917-09-25
19 Trema orientale Wahiawa, back of library, in gulch Preserved_Specimen tree with long branches Swanson, Mrs. Oahu BISH 1953-09-22
20 Trema orientale Central ridge of Olowalu Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2346 Maui BISH 1920-05-12
21 Trema orientale Honolulu, Nuuanu Valley, nearly opposite Queen Emma Home Preserved_Specimen Tree; frs. many ripening green to black Neal, M.C. Oahu BISH 1961-10-21
22 Trema orientale Manoa, HSPA plantation Preserved_Specimen 25' tall Grant, M.L. 7510 Oahu BISH 1934-10-29
23 Trema orientale Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. 1883 Oahu BISH 1870-10-10
24 Trema orientale Near Hwy 11 ca. 23 miles W of Hilo Preserved_Specimen Small tree with smooth, light brown bark, dull foliage, and green flowers with white anthers. Herbst, D.R. 908 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-11
25 Trema orientale Near Highway 11 about 23 miles w of Hilo Preserved_Specimen small tree with smooth, light brown bark, dull foliage, and green flowers with white anthers Herbst, D.R. 908 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-11
26 Trema orientale Central ridge of Olowalu Valley Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2346 Maui BISH 1920-05-12
27 Trema orientale Hilo HUMAN_OBSERVATION Friday, J.B. Hawaii 1/2/2020
28 Trema orientale Honolulu, Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Nursery Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. 106 Oahu BISH 1928-05-01
29 Trema orientale Honolulu, Kalihi Valley, Bishop Estate Nursery Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. 153 Oahu BISH 1928-10-06
30 Trema orientale Koolau Mts. along Pupukea Rd. in Gulch behind Helemano Military Reservation Preserved_Specimen Krajina, V.J. 620520049 Oahu BISH 1962-05-20
31 Trema orientale Honolulu, Vineyard St. H.S.P.A Preserved_Specimen MacDaniels, L.H. 458 Oahu BISH 1927-01-17
32 Trema orientale Koolau Range, Punaluu, below Castle Trail Preserved_Specimen Webster, G.L. 1591 Oahu BISH 1948-05-23
33 Trema orientale Kalihi, Kamanaiki Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 15 Oahu BISH 1930-10-15
34 Trema orientale Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7553 Oahu BISH 1934-11-22
35 Trema orientale Mokuleia, slopes of Kaala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1784 Oahu BISH 1912-04-26
36 Trema orientale Wahiawa Preserved_Specimen Kerr, M. Oahu BISH 1945-12-02
37 Trema orientale Wailau, slopes of Ulakui Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 554 Maui BISH 1912-09-01
38 Trema orientale Honokahau Drainage Basin Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 395 Maui BISH 1917-09-25
39 Trema orientale Head of Manoa Valley Preserved_Specimen Hillebrand, W.B. Oahu BISH
40 Trema orientale Makaleha Ridge Preserved_Specimen Russ, G.W. Oahu BISH 1929-10-01
41 Trema orientale Kupehau, Honouliuli Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. Oahu BISH 1933-05-12
42 Trema orientale Manoa Valley, near head, arboretum of H.S.P.A Preserved_Specimen Caum, E.L. Oahu BISH 1930-12-01
43 Trema orientale Kalihuiwai Preserved_Specimen Lydgate, J.M. Kauai BISH 1913-01-01
44 Trema orientale Puna Preserved_Specimen Bryan, L.W. Hawaii BISH 1932-03-01
45 Trema orientale Mokuleia, slopes of Kaala Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1784 Oahu BISH 1912-04-26
46 Trema orientale Kohala ditch trail, steep slopes of gulch Preserved_Specimen tree. Ht. 10 m MacDaniels, L.H. 339 Hawaii BISH 1926-12-06
47 Trema orientale Honolulu, in garden of E.H. Bryan, Manoa garden Preserved_Specimen Bryan Jr., E.H. Oahu BISH 1965-03-22
48 Trema orientale Honolulu: Foster Botanic Garden potted in full sun Preserved_Specimen young tree with erect main stem 1.5 m tall, with upward slanting laterals. Flowers white Lau, J. 2994 Oahu BISH 1986-12-09
49 Trema orientale ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Growing in a fallow papaya field. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 27 Hawaii BISH 1979-04-23
50 Trema orientale Waiakea Arboretum, Waiakea Forest Preserve, 5 mi. S of Hilo secondary forest Preserved_Specimen small tree Little Jr., E.L. 23043 Hawaii BISH 1968-06-02
51 Trema orientale ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Growing in a fallow papaya field. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 27 Hawaii BISH 1979-04-23
52 Trema orientale upper Waianae Valley, slopes of Kamaileunu Ridge, North of Puu Kawiwi in dry secondary forest of Psidium, Lantana & other introduced exotics Preserved_Specimen Large multistemmed shrub to 15 ft. Nagata, K.M. 1098 Oahu BISH 1972-12-28
53 Trema orientale undeveloped subdivision, Waiakea understory grazed by cattle Preserved_Specimen 5 m tree Takeuchi, W.N. 1723 Hawaii BISH 1984-08-04
54 Trema orientale Honolulu, Kamehameha Girls' School, Kapalama, Koolau Range forest Preserved_Specimen 30' tall Hosaka, E.Y. 2431 Oahu BISH 1938-12-10
55 Trema orientale Kapailoa [Kaaloa] forested slopes above Haupu Bay Diospyros sandwicensis mixed forest with Charpentiera obovaya, Nototrichium sandwicense, Alyxia oliviformis, Ochrosia compta, Reynoldsia sandwicensis, Tetraplasandra hawaiensis, Clermontia kakeana, Perrottetia sandwicensis, Styphelia ta Preserved_Specimen tree, 7 m tall, trunk buttressed, naturalized in area Wood, K.R. 9227 Molokai BISH 2002-01-03
56 Trema orientale Koolau Range, Kapalama Valley lower dry lands Preserved_Specimen large tree, axillary flowers Uehara, S. 13 Oahu BISH 1942-11-01
57 Trema orientale Castle Trail Tree growing in Metrosideros, Pisonia, Cyrtandra, Clidemia forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree height 20 m. Fruit miniature. Gagné, W.C. 708 Oahu BISH 1981-03-01
58 Trema orientale Castle Trail in Metrosideros, Dicranopteris, Eucalyptus Preserved_Specimen Flower white Gagné, W.C. 707 Oahu BISH 1981-03-01
59 Trema orientale Castle Trail Tree growing in Metrosideros, Pisonia, Cyrtandra, Clidemia forest. Preserved_Specimen Tree height 20 m. Fruit miniature. Gagné, W.C. 708 Oahu BISH 1981-03-01
60 Trema orientale ahupuaa of Halepuaa in the Puna District Growing in a fallow papaya field. Preserved_Specimen Kubo, R. 27 Hawaii BISH 1979-04-23
61 Trema orientale Mountain near last ditchman's house on way to Mt. Eke, West mt. side Preserved_Specimen horizontally branched tree Degener, O. 2562 Maui BISH 1927-08-27
62 Trema orientale Waipahu Cultral Gardens, 94-695 Waipahu St full sun at the side of a stream Preserved_Specimen tree 15 m with a slanted trunk and an open crown Lau, J. 2108 Oahu BISH 1986-03-10
63 Trema orientale Castle trail in Metrosideros, Dicranopteris, Eucalyptus Preserved_Specimen flower white Gagné, W.C. 707 Oahu BISH 1981-03-01
64 Trema orientale Koolau Range, Kapalama Valley dry forest area Preserved_Specimen tree, large, spreading, 20 m tall Kuykendall, J.R. 17 Oahu BISH 1942-11-01
65 Trema orientale Koloa District. Growing next to truck trail between Alexander Reservoir and Wahaiawa bogs. Native/Alien mixed forest; forestry plantings of various species in area. Growing in full sunlight; moist-mesic. Preserved_Specimen Spindly, erect tree, about 4 meters tall; leaves medium green, pale and blue-ish below, prominently veined; female flowers green with pale-colored fringed stigmas. Collected from a branch that fell to the ground froman unhealthy looking tree with few leaves. Brock, K. 814 Kauai BISH 2016-04-29
66 Trema orientale Koloa District, Lawai Valley, Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, near chalet in lower valley Preserved_Specimen Large spreading tree of 50'. Leaves dark, dull green above with reddish tinged midvein. Below grey-green with yellow-green veins. Stigmas silvery; immature fruit pale green. Flynn, T.W. 3099 Kauai BISH 1988-08-01
67 Trema orientale Koolau Range, Kaneohe, 47-285 Pulama Rd., Senator Fong's Plantation and Garden with Schefflera and Schinus; lowland mesic forest Preserved_Specimen tree to 4 m; flowers small white Annable, C.R. 3036 Oahu BISH 1996-09-23
68 Trema orientale Kapalama Valley grassy slope Preserved_Specimen 15-20' tall Judd Jr., A.F. Oahu BISH 1932-10-08
69 Trema orientale Punaluu, slopes bordering Castle Trail uluhe-covered hillside Preserved_Specimen Takeuchi, W.N. 1806 Oahu BISH 1984-10-28
70 Trema orientale Nene rd. beyond airport, near coast east of Hilo common in edges of dense scrub-forest dominated by Melastoma Preserved_Specimen Loosely branched spreading tree 8 m tall, leaves distichous in appearance Fosberg, F.R. 55662 Hawaii BISH 1975-03-14
71 Trema orientale Koloa District, Lawai Valley, Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai Kai, just S of Pump 6 at North end of Allerton gardens Preserved_Specimen Tree 12 m tall with spreading crown. Fruits green. Lorence, D.H. 5729 Kauai BISH 1987-12-14
72 Trema orientale Koolau Range, Punaluu, below Castle Trail, beside road Preserved_Specimen Tree 30' high, flowering Wilbur, R.L. 751 Oahu BISH 1948-05-23
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