Aspidopterys elliptica
(Blume) A. Juss. in Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 2. 13: 266. 1840
& in Arch. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 3: 509. 1843; Kanj. et al., Fl. Assam 1: 190. 1936. Hiraea
elliptica Blume, Bijdr. 255. 1825. Aspidopterys andamanica Hutch. in Bull. Misc. Inform.
1917: 99. 1917; Parkinson, For. Fl. Andam. Isl. 107. 1922.
Kh.: Ka-chali.
Climbers; branches terete; young parts sparsely and appressedly pale hairy. Leaves ovate or ovate-elliptic, rounded or slightly cordate at base, rounded and acuminate at apex, 10 - 15 x 6 - 8 cm, glabrous; petioles 1 - 2.5 cm long. Panicles 17 - 19 cm long, glabrous. Floral buds ovate-elliptic, 3 - 6 x 2.5 - 4 mm; pedicels slender, 0.6 - 3 cm long, elongating with growing buds, appressed-tomentose, articulate below middle at about 6 - 8 mm (in fruits) from base. Calyx-lobes oblong, rounded at apex, 2 - 3 x 1 - 1.5 mm, greyish-tomentose above. Petals oblong, rounded at apex, 5 - 7 x 2 - 3 mm, glabrous, white. Filaments 1.2 - 1.5 mm long; anthers 1.5 - 2 x ca 1 mm. Ovary glabrous. Samaras suborbicular or orbicular, mostly emarginate, 4.5 - 6.5 x 5 - 6 cm across, coriaceous, pale translucent to shiny brown; carpophores ca 4 - 5 mm long.
Fl. & Fr. Feb. - June.
Distrib. India: In evergreen or mixed evergreen forests at 200 - 300 m. Assam, Meghalaya and Andaman Islands.
Indonesia, Malesia, Philippines, Vietnam.
Uses. The bark is said to be chewed with betel leaves in Khasi hills.
Climbers; branches terete; young parts sparsely and appressedly pale hairy. Leaves ovate or ovate-elliptic, rounded or slightly cordate at base, rounded and acuminate at apex, 10 - 15 x 6 - 8 cm, glabrous; petioles 1 - 2.5 cm long. Panicles 17 - 19 cm long, glabrous. Floral buds ovate-elliptic, 3 - 6 x 2.5 - 4 mm; pedicels slender, 0.6 - 3 cm long, elongating with growing buds, appressed-tomentose, articulate below middle at about 6 - 8 mm (in fruits) from base. Calyx-lobes oblong, rounded at apex, 2 - 3 x 1 - 1.5 mm, greyish-tomentose above. Petals oblong, rounded at apex, 5 - 7 x 2 - 3 mm, glabrous, white. Filaments 1.2 - 1.5 mm long; anthers 1.5 - 2 x ca 1 mm. Ovary glabrous. Samaras suborbicular or orbicular, mostly emarginate, 4.5 - 6.5 x 5 - 6 cm across, coriaceous, pale translucent to shiny brown; carpophores ca 4 - 5 mm long.
Fl. & Fr. Feb. - June.
Distrib. India: In evergreen or mixed evergreen forests at 200 - 300 m. Assam, Meghalaya and Andaman Islands.
Indonesia, Malesia, Philippines, Vietnam.
Uses. The bark is said to be chewed with betel leaves in Khasi hills.
