Ceodes umbellifera, synonymPisonia umbellifera, commonly known as the birdlime tree[2] or bird catcher tree, is a species of plant in the Nyctaginaceae family. The evergreen shrub has soft wood, small pink or yellow flowers, and produces cavate brown fruit throughout the period March to April.[3] The species has been categorized under different genera in its documented lifetime, being reallocated between Pisonia and Ceodes.[4] Its former genus, Pisonia, is named after a Dutch scientist, Willem Piso, and umbellifera is derived from Latin umbelliferum, denoting the species' big, 'shade-carrying' foliage.[5]
The tree's fruit often trap insects, small mammals and birds.[6] This is because the sticky sap of the fruit sticks to the skin, fur or feathers of the animal and renders it immovable.[7] As such, ensnared creatures will often die from starvation[3] or be unable to defend themselves from natural predators.[7]
^ abJacobs, S.W.L.; G. J. Harden. "Pisonia umbellifera". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
^ abCite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).