Bhesa
Ham. ex Arn.
Trees. Leaves simple, spirally arranged; coriaceous, entire; midrib and
nerves prominent; petioles thickened; stipules convolute in bud, caducous. Flowers
bisexual, in panicled spikes or racemes, solitary or paired. Sepals 5-lobed.
Petals 5, contorted. Stamens 5, inserted on the disc or just beneath the outer
margin; anthers basifixed, obtuse or apiculate. Ovary free, crowned with tuft
of hairs at the top, 2-locular; styles 2, filiform, free or united at the base only;
ovules 2 in each locule. Disc fleshy, subentire or lobed, glabrous or puberulous.
Fruits a capsule, entire or 2-lobed. Seeds 1-2, covered with fleshy aril.
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Malesia; 5 species, 3 in India.
Literature. DING HOU (1958) in Blumea Suppl. 4: 149-153. DING HOU (1962) in Fl. Males. 6(2): 280.
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Malesia; 5 species, 3 in India.
Literature. DING HOU (1958) in Blumea Suppl. 4: 149-153. DING HOU (1962) in Fl. Males. 6(2): 280.
KEY TO THE SPECIES
| 1a. Flowers in simple racemes | 3. Bhesa robusta |
| b. Flowers in panicled spikes or racemes | 2 |
| 2a. Disc deeply 5-lobed; ovary with tuft of hairs on top | 2. Bhesa paniculata |
| b. Disc entire; ovary glabrous | 1. Bhesa indica |
