Florida Trema
Trema micrantha
Plant Family: Cannabaceae
Leaves: Alternate, simple, broadly ovate, to 15 cm; apices pointed, the margins are finely toothed, distinctly rough to the touch on the top surface, like fine sandpaper. The leaves are held on the branches in a flattened two-ranked arrangement.
Bark Description: Light brown, rough, with small lenticels.
Flowers: Dioecious, small, greenish, in the leaf axils; appearing spring to summer for established trees, but at any time of year for younger trees.
Fruits: Small bright orange drupes that are found in the leaf axils; from fall into winter, but at other times of the year for younger trees.
Habitat: Florida Trema is a common pioneer species that colonizes open sunlit sites, including hammock edges, roadsides, and other disturbed areas.
Growth Form: Shrub to small tree.
Similar Species: West Indian Trema (Trema lamarckiana) also has two-ranked leaves, but they are much smaller, to only 6 cm, and feel rough on both the top and bottom surfaces.
Comments: Florida Trema is the most common of three Trema species found in south Florida.
