Decasehistia crotonifolia Wight & Arn., Prodr. 52. 1834; Masters in Fl. Brit. India 1: 332. 1874.

Shrubs, ca 2 m high; stems and branches densely whitish stellate-tomentose. Leaves 3 - 4 x 1.5 - 8 cm, ovate-lanceolate, cordate-rounded at base, acute at apex, coarsely serrate, stellate-pubescent on both surfaces, densely so beneath; petioles 1 - 4 cm long, densely stellate-pubescent; stipules ca 1 cm long, linear-subulate. Flowers solitary, axillary or 2 - 5 in terminal clusters by reduction of upper leaves; pedicels 3 - 15 mm long,, densely stellate-pubescent. Epicalyx segments 5 - 10 x 1 - 1.5 mm, linear, connate at base, densely pubescent on both surfaces. Calyx campanulate, divided to the middle, lobes 10 - 15 x 3 - 5 mm, deltoid-acuminate, persistent. Corolla with dark maroon centre, 5 - 6 cm across; petals 3 - 4 x 2.5 cm, obovate, densely stellate-pubescent outside, glabrous inside. Staminal column ca 2 cm long, anth..iferous throughout. Ovary ovoid with 10 carpels attached by the base to a short conical 10-angled central column. Capsules 1.5 - 2 x 1 - 1.5 cm, enclosed in the calyx, densely stellate-pubescent, dehiscing into 10-valves, inner surface of valves glossy, glabrous. Seeds ca 4 x 2.5 mm, reniform, glabrous, brownish balck.

Fl. March - June; Fr. May - Nov.

Distrib. India: In deciduous forests of Western Ghats and Deccan plateau, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

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