360 



The Tremas 



(Wallich) Blume, on Cuba, and there are several other tropical American species. 

 The type is Trema cannabina Loureiro, of Cochin-China. 



The leaves are 3-nerved, short-stalked, equal-sided, or nearly so; their stipules 

 fall away early. The very small green monoecious or polygamous flowers are 

 borne in dense axillary cymes; the calyx is 4-parted or 5-parted, the divisions of 

 the staminate calyx being valvate in the bud, those of the perfect flower somewhat 

 imbricated; there are 4 or 5 stamens; the ovary is sessile and surmounted by 2 

 stigmas. The fruit is a very small globular drupe. 



I. FLORIDA TREMA— Trema floridana Britten 



While usually a shrub, this plant sometimes forms a single trunk 10 meters 

 high and 10 to 15 cm. in diameter. It occurs along borders of woods and in 

 thickets in southern Florida. The bark is about 4 mm. thick, the surface broken 

 by shallow fissures into small oblong light brown plates. The twigs are round 



Fig. 320. — Florida Trema. 



and velvety. The leaves are ovate, very finely toothed all around, 5 to 12 cm. 

 long, pointed, somewhat obliquely heart-shaped at the base, the upper surface very 

 rough and dark green, the imder side densely and finely gray- velvety; the leaf- 

 stalks are stout and 8 to 15 cm. long. The reddish fruit is about 1.5 mm. long. 

 The wood is light, soft, close-grained and light brown, the split surfaces 

 satiny. 



