Trema orientalis (L.) Blume

ആമത്താലി

Family : Cannabaceae

Synonym : Sponia wightii Planch.

Common Names : Indian charcoal tree, Gunpowder tree

Flowering Period : September-December

Distribution : Tropical Africa, Asia and Australia

Habitat : Dry and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Uses : Both bark and leaf decoctions are used as a gargle, inhalation, drink, lotion, bath or vapour bath for coughs, sore throat, toothache. A fibre obtained from the bark is used for making cords and ropes. The bark yields a black dye. The wood is off-white or tinged with pink. It is fine-grained, soft, light and of low durability. It is used in manufacturing panel products, poles and drumsticks. Paper made from T. orientalis has good tensile strength and folding endurance. The tree can provide plenty of firewood and excellent charcoal which is even suitable for making gunpowder and fireworks.

Key Characters :

Dioecious trees, to 15 +m high. Leaves simple, alternate, ovate-lanceolate, margin serrulate. Flowers unisexual, greenish, in axillary fascicles or cymes; male flowers usually sessile; tepals 4 or 5; stamens 5; pistillode oblong; female flowers : tepals unequal, ciliate; ovary superior, sessile, 1-celled, ovate; style bifid, villous; stigma plumose. Fruit a drupe.