Trema tomentosum

(Roxb.) H. Hara

Poison Peach

Cannabaceae Potential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Insect larvae, Caution

Aboriginal people in Australia cooked and ate the larvae of wood-boring insects that inhabit this plant.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical areas.

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Africa, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Ryuku, SE Asia, Sikkim, Timor-Leste, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Bahrain, Burundi, Benin, Brunei, Bhutan, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, China, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Comoros, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Mongolia, Mauritania, Mauritius, Maldives, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sudan, Singapore, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Syria, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A shrub with several stems. It grows 4 m high. The stems are covered with stiff hairs. The leaves are alternate. They vary in shape but are oval. They can be 2-13 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The leaves are rough to touch. The leaves have teeth along the edge and a pointed tip. They are paler underneath. The flowers are green or white. They are on short stalks in the axils of leaves. The male and female flowers are separate on the same plant. The fruit are fleshy and round. They are 3 mm across. They occur in bunches are change from green to black as they mature.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Notes

Also put in the family Ulmaceae.

Names & Synonyms

Kywe-sa, Satsha

References (12)

Cowie, I, 2006, A Survey of Flora and vegetation of the proposed Jaco-Tutuala-Lore National Park. Timor-Lests (East Timor) www.territorystories.nt/gov.au p 55
Fl. E. Himalaya 2:19. 1971 "tomentosa" [As tomentosum] - may not be specifically distinct from T. orientalis (L.) Blume\; the genus is of neuter gender according to NCU-3
Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 301 (var. viridus)
Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 85
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 238
Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 352
Milson, J., 2000, Trees and Shrubs of north-west Queensland. DPI p 298
Paczkowska, G . & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Calatogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 565
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 359
Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 76
Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 372