Chaetachme is a monotypic genus of flowering plants native to eastern and western Africa, including Madagascar,[2] containing the single species Chaetachme aristata. Its English common name is thorny elm,[3] and it is known as muyuyu in Kikuyu.[4] Traditionally placed in the Elm family, it is more recently placed in the family Cannabaceae, thought to be possibly closely related to Celtis.
Chaetachme aristata is a shrub or small tree growing up to 10 meters tall. It has drooping, angular branches covered with spines up to 3.5 centimeters in length. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 11 centimeters long by 5 centimeters wide, pointed at the tip and smooth or serrated on the edges. The shrub is dioecious and sexually dimorphic, with male and female flower types borne on separate individuals,[2][5] although it may also be monoecious.[6]