Glochidion puber (L.) Hutch.

Needlebush; Cheesetree

Shrub

Perennial

Vascular

Needlebush is an introduced deciduous, thicket-forming shrub in the Leaf Flower family (Phyllanthaceae). It is native to China and Japan, It Alabama it is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental and occasionally becomes naturalized. It occurs around old home sites, on stream banks, along urban forest margins, and on roadsides. Needlebush is an erect shrub or small tree reaching 12-20 feet in height. It forms thickets from root sprouts. The bark on larger stems and the trunk is dark brown with narrow furrows. The younger stems are green and pubescent. There are two types of leaves produced-small scale-like leaves arranged spirally on the main branches and well-developed leaves on short, deciduous phyllanthoid branchs that appear like pinnately compound leaves. These leaves are alternate, distichous, petiolate, oblong to lanceolate in outline, glabrous above and densely pubescent below, with entire margins. Flowers are produced in axillary unisexual or bisexual fascicles of 2-5 flowers. The individual flowers have 6 greenish sepals and no petals. Male flowers have 3 stamens that are fused into a cylindric column. Female flowers have a 5-10-locular ovary. The fruit is a flattened, rounded, pubescent capsule with 10 segments each containing 2 seed. The seed are orange-red in color. In China various extracts of Needlebush are used to treat dysentery, diarrhea, coughs, and other ailments. The seeds are crushed to obtain an oil that is used as a lubricant and for making soap.—A. Diamond.

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Not Native

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