Bird-catcher tree (Pisonia umbellifera)

Features and Characteristics

Pisonia umbellifera, commonly known as bird-catcher tree or bird lime tree, is an evergreen tree found in moist, open forests and thickets in Southeast Asia, Australia, and Oceania. The elliptic foliage can reach up to 8″ long and 3″ wide and is held mostly in clusters a the ends of the branchlets. The terminal clusters of small, pinkish-white, fragrant flowers bloom seasonally. The flowers are followed by dark brown, narrowly cylindrical fruits that are covered in a sticky mucous. Insects and small birds can get caught in the exudate and are unable to escape. Larger animals can disperse the seed across great distances. This is a fast growing tree that can reach up to 50′ tall with a 30′ spread at maturity.

Genus name honors William Piso, 17th century Dutch physician and naturalist.

The specific epithet umbellifera means “umbel-bearing”, possibly in reference to the shape of the flower clusters.

The common names refer to the ability of the sticky seeds to trap and kill birds.