Bird-catcher tree (Pisonia grandis)

Features and Characteristics

Pisonia grandis, commonly called bird-catcher tree, birdlime tree, lettuce tree or cabbage tree, is a soft-wooded, brittle-branched tree of the Bougainvillea family that grows to as much as 60-80’ tall. It is native to tropical islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans plus adjoining coastal areas, ranging from Madagascar to Polynesia. It is often found growing in dense stands on coral cays. Thickets of this tree are favored nesting sites for certain seabirds.

Long-petioled, elliptic, light green leaves to 12” long. Funnel-shaped, greenish-white flowers in compound axillary or terminal inflorescences bloom summer to fall. Female flowers give way to elongate cylindrical fruits with sticky prickles.

Seeds will attach themselves to the feathers of small birds thus trapping them, hence the common name of bird-catcher tree. Larger birds will carry the seed with them as they fly to different islands resulting in an interesting avenue of seed dispersal.

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