Spider Tree 樹頭菜
Scientific Name 學名: Crateva unilocularis
Basic Information 基本資料
Spider Tree withstands wind well and grows at any altitude. It has wide spreading crown and blooms abundance of flowers during its flowering period. Therefore, it is extensively planted as a roadside tree in Hong Kong.
Flowering: Feb - Apr
Fruiting Period: Jun - Nov
樹頭菜樹形優美並擁有廣闊開展的樹冠，每到花期它都會開出大量的花，其抗風能力強，並能在任何高度的環境生長，故在香港被廣泛種植作路旁樹。
花期: 2月 - 4月
果期: 6月 - 11月
Special Features 特徵
The flowers of Spider Tree consist of 4 round petals and they cluster at the ends of the branches. The flowers are white in the initial stage but turn yellow in the late stage. Its long and red filaments stretch out from the flowers which are similar to the spider legs and this is also why it is named as “Spider Tree”.
樹頭菜的花由四塊呈圓形的花瓣組成，並聚生於枝條末端，花會由初期的白色轉為後期的黃色。紅色的雄蕊細長並突出花外，與蜘蛛長腳相似，故其英文名稱為「Spider tree」(蜘蛛樹)。
Interesting Facts 趣味知識
The leaves of Spider Tree can strengthen the stomach. In Yunnan of China, its young leaves on treetop will be used for preserved vegetables. This is also why its Chinese name is called “樹頭菜” (Treetop Vegetables). On the other hand, the wood of Spider Tree can be used for musical instruments and woodcrafts while the peels can be used for dyeing.
樹頭菜的葉健胃，在中國雲南，人們會摘取其樹頂上的嫩葉製成醃菜，這亦是其名字的由來。除此之外，樹頭菜的木材亦可製成樂器及模型，而果皮亦可提煉成染料。