Aspidopterys canarensis Dalz. in Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 3: 37.1851; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 420. 1874. A. glomerata Wight, Ic. t. 1986. 1853.

Climbing shrubs; branches with wrinkled bark, glabrous. Leaves ovate, elliptic-lanceolate, sometimes elliptic-obovate, rounded or subacute at base, obtusely acuminate at apex, repand along margins, 5.5 - 10.5 x 2.5 - 5 cm, glabrous, sparingly clothed with fusiform hairs when young; petioles 3 - 8 mm long, channelled, glabrous. Inflorescence reduced to axillary 5 - 10-flowered fascicles borne on main stems. Flowers 4 - 5 mm across; buds 3.5 x 2 - 3 mm; pedicels filiform, 4 - 5 mm long, rusty puberulous, not articulate. Calyx-lobes ovate, obtuse, ca 1 x 0.75 mm. Petals oblong, obtuse, ca 4 x 2 mm, white. Filaments ca 1 mm long; anthers oblong, ca 1.5 x 0.5 mm. Ovary glabrous; styles 3; stigma capitate. Samaras suborbicular, truncate at tip, 3.5 - 4 x 3 - 3.5 cm, membranous.

Fl. & Fr. Feb. - May.

Distrib. India: Evergreen forests in ghats at ca 800 m. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Endemic and rare.

RELATED IMAGES