Strychnos potatorum L.f.

Description:

Family: LoganiaceaeDistribution: Found in the forests of foot hills of Peninsular India and Sri Lanka.4-6m deciduous trees. Bark blackish-brown, deeply cracked; Leaves opposite, elliptic, acute, coriaceous, 4-6x2-3.5cm, nerves about 4 pairs, second pair of nerves joining to the mid rib ; Flowers creamy white, 4-6mm across, in 3-5cm long axillary cymes. Calyx5, corolla tube and lobes equal , throat with wooly tomentum, stamens 5 adnate to the corolla tube, filaments short, ovary 2 celled, stigma bifid, Fruit a globose berry with 2 seeds. Photographed at Velugonda hills of Eastern ghats. Vernacular name-Telugu- ChillaRef: Flora of Presidency of Madras -J.S.Gamble.