Trema is a genus of about 15 species of evergreen trees closely related to the hackberries (Celtis), occurring in subtropical and tropical regions of southern Asia, northern Australasia, Africa and South and Central America. They are generally small trees, reaching 10-20 m tall. Previously included either in the elm family Ulmaceae or with Celtis in the Celtidaceae, genetic analysis by the APG has shown they are best placed in the hemp family Cannabaceae. The leaves are alternate, simple, 7-15 cm long, ovate-acuminate to lanceolate with a long pointed tip, and evenly serrated margins. The fruit is a small drupe 3-5 mm diameter. Trema species are sometimes used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genera Aenetus, including A. splendens, which burrow horizontally into the trunk then vertically down, and Endoclita, including E. malabaricus.

Trema orientalis is widely planted for land reclamation in southern Asia valued for its tolerance of poor soils. It is also an invasive species on some Pacific Ocean islands. Trema orientalis or pigeon wood as it is commonly known has very light wood that is and somewhat stringy, pinkish in colour, and has not been used for much, except for things like brake-blocks for wagons in the old days, and fruit boxes. The juvenile leaves are eaten as spinach by the Zulus, who also use the roots and bark as traditional medicine. Fruit, leaves, bark, stems, twigs and seeds are used in traditional medicine throughout Africa and Madagascar. It is considered a desirable tree to have near the village, attracting large flocks of pigeons, which are hunted food. Pegs made from the wood of Trema orientalis are often driven into the ground near fields to keep them from harm. An excellent string can be made from the bark. It was formerly used for tying assegaai heads to the shafts and it’s reported that the bark has also been used for waterproofing fishing lines.