Calophyllum austroindicum Kosterm. ex Stevens - CLUSIACEAE

Synonym : Calophyllum trapezifolium sensu Anders.

Vernacular names : Tamil: Cheru pinnai.  Malayalam: Kattupunna.  English: Rhomb leaved poon.

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Botanical descriptions Ecology Distribution Literatures

Botanical descriptions :

Habit : Trees up to 35 m tall.
Trunk & Bark : Outer bark pale brown to yellowish, with strong boat shape fissures; inner bark reddish.
Branches and Branchlets : Branchlets quadrangular, drying dark brown.
Exudates : Latex clear.
Leaves : Simple, opposite, decussate; petiole 0.3-0.8 cm long, canaliculate, glabrous; lamina 2.5-6 (-8) x 1-4 cm, obovate, apex usually rounded or obtuse, sometimes subacuminate, base cuneate, coriaceous, glabrous, glossy above; midrib flat or slightly raised above; secondary_nerves close, parallel, more acute in angle and terminating at thick margin.
Inflorescence / Flower : Flowers white, in axillary racemes.
Fruit and Seed : Drupe, ovoid, apiculate 3.5 cm long; 1-seeded.

Ecology :

Canopy trees in medium and high elevation wet evergreen forests between 1100 and 1800 m.

Distribution :

Endemic to the Western_Ghats- common in Agasthyamalai Region and rare from Elamalai to western slopes of Nilgiris.

Literatures :

J. Arn. Arb. 61: 250. 1980; Gamble, Fl. Madras 1: 76. 1997 (re. ed); Sasidharan, Biodiversity documentation for Kerala- Flowering Plants, part 6: 39. 2004; Saldanha, Fl. Karnataka 1: 202. 1996.

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