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Pisonia umbellifera
Nyctaginaceae FAMILY

Pisonia umbellifera

Pisonia umbellifera

Edibility
0/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Tree
GrowthFast

Requires a well-drained soil rich in potassium and a position in full sun or light shade[1, 2]. Succeeds in dry soils[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant[2]. The flowers are very fragrant[2]. Most members of this genus are dioecious and require both male and female forms if they are to produce fruit[1]. This fruit exudes an incredibly sticky mucous that is unaffected by water[1]. This mucous sticks to insects and birds, which then become trapped. Larger birds can usually free themselves, though they will often lose some feathers, and they will also have transported the seed to a new location where it can germinate[1]. Small birds and insects, however, are unable to escape and usually die[1]. Some reports say that this species is sterile and does not produce flowers or seed[1].

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings of mature wood. Cuttings of greenwood, rooted with bottom heat. Layering. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pisonia+umbellifera>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. — Barwick. M. · Thames & Hudson, London · 2004 · ISBN 0-500-51181-0 ↩︎A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
  2. [2]Native Plants Hawaii — http://nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/ ↩︎A website containing information on a range of native Hawaiian plants, with descriptions, habitat, traditional uses etc.
  3. [3]Flora of China — Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. · 1994 · http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ ↩︎An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
  4. [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  5. [5]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.