{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{excessive citations|date=February 2026}} {{Speciesbox |image=Starr 070321-5915 Trema orientalis.jpg |status=LC |status_system=IUCN3.1 |status_ref=<ref>Barstow, M. (2018). ''Trema orientalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species'' 2018: e.T61988133A61988136. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T61988133A61988136.en. Downloaded on 30 October 2018.</ref> |genus=Trema |species=orientale |authority=(L.) Blume{{r|powo}}<ref name=trop1> Under its treatment of ''Trema orientalis'' (from its basionym of ''Celtis orientalis''), this plant name was first published in ''Museum Botanicum'' 2: 62. 1852. {{cite web |url=http://www.tropicos.org/Name/33300010 |title=Name - ''Trema orientalis'' (L.) Blume |work=Tropicos |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |location=Saint Louis, Missouri |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> |synonyms_ref={{r|powo}} |synonyms={{Collapsible list|{{Species list |Celtis commersonii|Brongn. |Celtis glomerata|Hochst. |Celtis guineensis|Schumach. & Thonn. |Celtis laeta|Salisb. |Celtis madagascariensis|Bojer |Celtis orientalis|L. |Celtis rigida|Blume |Sponia affinis|Planch. |Sponia africana|Planch. |Sponia andaresa|Comm. ex Lam. |Sponia argentea|Planch. |Sponia bracteolata|Hochst. |Sponia commersonii|Decne. ex Planch. |Sponia glomerata|Hochst. |Sponia guineensis|(Schumach. & Thonn.) Planch. |Sponia hochstetteri|Planch. |Sponia lucida|Hassk. |Sponia nitens|Hook.f. ex Planch. |Sponia orientalis|(L.) Decne. ex Planch. |Sponia rigida|(Blume) Decne. ex Planch. |Sponia scaberrima|Miq. |Sponia strigosa|Planch. |Sponia wightii|Planch. |Trema affine|(Planch.) Blume |Trema africanum|(Planch.) Blume |Trema argenteum|(Planch.) Blume |Trema bracteolatum|(Hochst.) Blume |Trema burmanni|Blume |Trema commersonii|(Decne. ex Planch.) Blume |Trema glomeratum|(Hochst.) Blume |Trema grevei|Baill. |Trema griseum|Baker |Trema guineense|(Schumach. & Thonn.) Ficalho |Trema hochstetteri|(Planch.) Engl. |Trema nitens|(Hook.f. ex Planch.) Blume |Trema rigidum|(Blume) Blume |Trema scaberrimum|(Miq.) Blume |Trema sieberi|Blume }}}} }}
'''''Trema orientale''''' (sometimes ''Trema orientalis'') is a species of flowering tree in the hemp family, Cannabaceae.{{r|powo}}<ref name=trop2>{{cite web |url=http://www.tropicos.org/Name/33300010?tab=synonyms |title=Name - !''Trema orientalis'' (L.) Blume synonyms |work=Tropicos |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |location=Saint Louis, Missouri |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref><ref name=trop3> The basionym of ''T. orientalis'', ''Celtis orientalis'' was originally described and published in ''Species Plantarum'' 2: 1044. 1753. {{cite web |url=http://www.tropicos.org/Name/50008711 |title=Name - ''Celtis orientalis'' L. |quote=Type-Protologue: Locality: Habitat in Indiis: Distribution: Sri Lanka |work=Tropicos |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |location=Saint Louis, Missouri |access-date=November 2, 2011}}</ref><ref name=grin>{{cite web |url=https://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?40045 |title=''Trema orientalis'' information from NPGS/GRIN |author=GRIN |quote=Comment: although treated [at GRIN] as feminine, in accordance with botanical tradition (Vienna ICBN Art. 62.1), the genus is of neuter gender according to NCU-3 |work=Taxonomy for Plants |publisher=USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program |location=National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland |date=May 29, 2007 |access-date=November 2, 2011|author-link=Germplasm Resources Information Network }}</ref> It is known by many common names, including '''charcoal-tree''',<ref name=grin/> '''Indian charcoal-tree''',<ref name=grin/> '''pigeon wood''',<ref name="SANBI">{{cite web|url=http://www.plantzafrica.com/planttuv/tremorient.htm|title=Trema orientalis|last=Malan |first=Christien |author2=Notten, Alice |date=April 2005|publisher=South African National Biodiversity Institute|access-date=2 March 2010}}</ref> '''Oriental trema''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=TROR|taxon=Trema orientalis|accessdate=14 December 2015}}</ref> and in Hawaii, where it has become naturalized, '''gunpowder tree''',<ref name="LittleSkolmen1989 ">{{cite book|last=Little Jr.|first=Elbert L.|author2=Skolmen, Roger G. |title=Common Forest Trees of Hawaii: Gunpowder-tree|publisher=USDA |date=1989|series=Agriculture Handbook No. 679 |url=http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/trees/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Trema_orientalis.pdf|access-date=2010-03-02}}</ref> or '''nalita'''.<ref name="Jahan2007">{{cite journal|last=Jahan|first=M. Sarwar|author2=Sung Phil Mun |date=April 2007|title=Characteristics of Dioxane Lignins Isolated at Different Ages of Nalita Wood (Trema orientalis)|journal=Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology|volume=27|issue=2|pages=83–98|doi=10.1080/02773810701486865|s2cid=98093199}}</ref> It has a near universal distribution in tropical and warm temperate parts of the Old World, with a range extending from South Africa, through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and southern China to Southeast Asia and Australia.
==Distribution== ''Trema orientale'' is native to tropical and southern Africa (including Madagascar), Asia (the Arabian Peninsula, China, eastern Asia, tropical Asia) and Australia.<ref name=grin/>
==Uses== The wood is relatively soft, and burns easily and quickly when dry. The wood is suitable for paper and pulp production,<ref name="worldagroforestry">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldagroforestry.org/sea/Products/AFDbases/af/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=1654|title=Trema orientalis|last=Orwa|first=C|author2=A Mutua |author3=Kindt R |author4=Jamnadass R |author5=S Anthony |date=2009|work=www.worldagroforestry.org|publisher=World Agroforestry Centre|access-date=2010-03-09}}</ref><ref>Jahan, M.S. et al. (2007). [http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/1328/1/JSIR%2066(10)%20(2007)%20853-859.pdf Evaluation of cooking processes for Trema orientalis pulping] Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research, Vol. 66 (2007) 853</ref> producing paper with good tensile strength and folding endurance.<ref name="worldagroforestry"/> The bark can be used for making string or rope, and used as waterproofing fishing-lines.<ref name="SANBI"/><ref name="FAO-34648">{{cite book|title=Some Medicinal Forest Plants Of Africa And Latin America Forestry - Paper 67|last=FAO Forestry Department|date=1986|pages=223–227|publisher=Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations|url=https://archive.org/details/somemedicinalfor034648mbp|access-date=2010-03-02}}</ref> In India and Tanzania, the wood is used to make charcoal and is a good fire starter.<ref name="FAO-34648"/>
===Medicinal use=== The tree has various uses as an herbal medicine in a wide range of cultures.<ref name="SANBI"/> The leaves and the bark are used to treat coughs, sore throats, asthma, bronchitis, gonorrhea, yellow fever, toothache, and as an antidote to general poisoning.<ref name="worldagroforestry"/><ref name="FAO-X5327e"/> A bark infusion is reportedly drunk to control dysentery and a leaf decoction is used to deworm dogs.<ref name="worldagroforestry"/> In recent pharmacological studies, an aqueous extract from the bark has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in an experimental animal model of diabetes mellitus, and may be useful for treating this disease.<ref name="pmid16599266">{{cite journal |vauthors=Dimo T, Ngueguim FT, Kamtchouing P, Dongo E, Tan PV |title=Glucose lowering efficacy of the aqueous stem bark extract of Trema orientalis (Linn) Blume in normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats |journal=Die Pharmazie |volume=61 |issue=3 |pages=233–6 |year=2006 |pmid=16599266 |title-link=streptozotocin }}</ref> Extracts from leaves of related species (''Trema guineense'' and ''Trema micrantha'') showed anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and analgesic activity in rodents,<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/ptr.2650060309|title=Analgesic and antiinflammatory activity in acute and chronic conditions of Trema guineense (Schum. et Thonn.) Ficalho and Trema micrantha Blume extracts in rodents|year=1992|last1=Barbera|first1=R.|last2=Trovato|first2=A.|last3=Rapisarda|first3=A.|last4=Ragusa|first4=S.|journal=Phytotherapy Research|volume=6|pages=146–148|issue=3|s2cid=83475778}}</ref> suggesting that ''T. orientale'' could produce similar results.
===Phytochemicals===
Trema orientalis has been reported to contain cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (30 mg/kg-90 mg/kg avg), cannabinol (130 mg/kg-357 mg/kg avg) and cannabidiol (2 mg/kg-5 mg/kg avg). Identification was performed by comparing the retention time of HPLC and GC analysis.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Napiroon | first1 = T | last2 = Tanruean | first2 = K | last3 = Poolprasert | first3 = P | last4 = Bacher | first4 = M | last5 = Balslev | first5 = H | last6 = Poopath | first6 = M | last7 = Santimaleeworagun | first7 = W | date = May 2021 | title = Cannabinoids from inflorescences fractions of Trema orientalis (L.) Blume (Cannabaceae) against human pathogenic bacteria | journal = PeerJ | volume = 9 | issue = | article-number = e11446 | doi = 10.7717/peerj.11446 | pmid = 34035994 | pmc = 8126263 | doi-access = free }}</ref> However these results have not yet been independently replicated, and have been disputed.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Appendino | first1 = G | last2 = Taglialatela-Scafati | first2 = O | last3 = Muñoz | first3 = E | year = 2022 | title = Cannabidiol (CBD) From Non-Cannabis Plants: Myth or Reality? | url = | journal = Natural Product Communications | volume = 17| issue = | article-number = 1934578X221098843| doi = 10.1177/1934578X221098843 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
==Ecology== This species has a high ecological impact with at least 14 species of butterfly using it as a larval food plant.<ref name="SANBI"/> Several species of birds eat the fruit or feed on the abundant insects which live in these trees. Pigeons and doves are often found in these trees where they eat the fruits or make their nests; giving the origin of the name 'Pigeon Wood'.<ref name="SANBI"/> The leaves, pods and seeds are used as fodder for cattle, buffaloes and goats in the Philippines.<ref name="worldagroforestry"/><ref name="FAO-X5327e"/> The leaves are also browsed by game animals and can be used as spinach. This tree is a fast-growing species found in previously disturbed areas and on forest margins. It is a pioneer species that can grow on poor soil and can be used to regenerate forest areas by providing shade and protection to saplings of forest hardwoods. ''T. orientale'' is nitrogen fixing and can thereby improve soil fertility for other plant species.<ref name="FAO-X5327e">{{cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/3/x5327e/x5327e.pdf|title=Trema orientalis|last=Eckman |first=Karlyn |author2=Hines, Deborah A. |date=1993|work=Indigenous multipurpose trees of Tanzania: uses and economic benefits for people|publisher=FAO Forestry Department|access-date=2010-03-02}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Trema orientalis at kallar Kasaragod kerala.jpg|Trema orientalis Image:Flowers & leaves I IMG 3453.jpg|Flowers and leaves Image:Pollen grains of Trema orientale.jpg|Pollen grains of Trema orientale Image:Trema_orientalis_fruit_bark.JPG|Ripe fruit and bark Image:Trema_orientalis_fruit.JPG|Green and ripe (black) fruit Image:Kharagola (Marathi- खरगोळ) (537093835).jpg|Branch bent down to show leaves and fruit </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=powo>{{cite web |title=''Trema orientale'' (L.) Blume |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:856758-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref> }}
==Bibliography== * Pooley, E. (1993). ''The Complete Field Guide to Trees of Natal, Zululand and Transkei''. {{ISBN|0-620-17697-0}}.
==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q108728855}}
orientale Category:Flora of Australia Category:Flora of Africa Category:Flora of temperate Asia Category:Flora of tropical Asia Category:Medicinal plants Category:Plants described in 1753 Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus