Florida Trema

Trema micrantha , as interpreted here, is widespread in tropical regions of the New World. Small-leaved populations may be confused with T . lamarckiana .

The soft wood of Trema micrantha is suitable for the construction of tea chests and match sticks.

Shrubs to small trees , 2-5.5(-10) m. Bark dark brown, smooth when young, developing small, warty projections in maturity. Branchlets copiously pubescent. Leaf blade ovate to narrowly ovate, 5-6.5(-9) × 2.5-4(-4.5) cm, base oblique to cordate, margins evenly serrate, apex acute to long-acuminate; abaxial surface softly, velvety white-pubescent; venation conspicuous but scarcely raised. Flowers: calyx greenish white. Fruits bright red-orange to yellow, 1.5-3.5 mm diam. 2 n = 20 (from Costa Rica).

Fla.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America.

Flowering most of year (Mar-Nov).

Hammocks and prairies, often weedy along roadsides, in burned areas, and on calcareous ground; 0-100m.

Rhamnus micranthus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 937. 1759; Celtis micranthus (Linnaeus) Swartz; Sponia micrantha (Linnaeus) Decaisne; Trema floridana Britton; Trema melinona Blume; Trema micrantha var. floridana (Britton) Standley & Steyermark