Antidesma acidum
Retz., Observ. Bot. 5: 30. 1788 (as acida); Müll.Arg. in DC., Prodr.
15(2): 249. 1866. Stilago diandra Roxb., Pl. Coromandel 2: 35, t. 166. 1802 & Fl. Ind., ed. Carey 3:
759. 1832. Antidesma diandrum Roth, Nov. Pl. Sp. 369. 1821; Hook.f., Fl. India 5: 361. 1887, p. p.
A. diandrum (Roxb.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 1: 826. 1824, nom. illeg. Stilago lanceolaria Roxb.
[Hort. Bengal. 71. 1814, nom. nud.] Fl. Ind., ed. Carey 3: 760. 1832. Antidesma lanceolarium
(Roxb.) Wall., Num. List No. 7284. 1832; Wight, Icon. Pl. Ind. Orient. 3(1): 4, t. 766. 1843. A.
wallichianum C.Presl, Epimel. Bot.: 235. 1849. A. ghaesembilla auct. non Gaertn. 1788: sensu
Hook.f., l. c. 357. 1887, p. p.; Pax & K.Hoffm. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147.xv (heft 81): 155. 1922, p.
p. quoad syn. A. acidum Retz.
Asm.: Abutenga, Nekham-tenga; Beng.: Amtua-sag, Archal, Mathagach, Mutta; Garo:
Aburok; Hindi: Aamari, Amli, Dhakki, Khatua, Sabheli-bhaja; Kan.: Bilikoomme, Karrihulipa,
Sannagooje; Kash.: Amtu; Kh.: Chouding, Dieng-japue; Lep.: Kantjer; Mal.: Areepazham;
Mar.: Ghondurili; Mik.: Ing-sun-arong; Nep.: Archal; Or.: Kundui, Manmuri, Nuniari; Sant.:
Matha-arak; Tam.: Asaripuli, Keathekkayyaa; Tel.: Pella-gumudu; Urdu: Nuniari.
Shrubs, 1 - 3 m high or rarely trees up to 15 m tall, deciduous. Leaves obovate to oblanceolate or oblong to elliptic, cuneate or acute at base, acute to apiculate at apex, (2 -) 5 – 12 (- 16) x 1.5 - 7 cm, membranous to chartaceous, glabrous above, sparsely pilose on midrib or occasionally tomentellous beneath; lateral nerves 3 - 8 pairs; petioles 1 - 5 (- 10) x 0.6 - 2 mm. Male inflorescences axillary and terminal, simple, 1 or 2 (- few)-branched, 2 - 12 cm long; bracts 0.5 - 1 mm long, ciliate. Male flowers: pedicels 0.5 - 1.5 mm long; calyx cup-shaped, 0.8 - 1 x 1 -1.3 mm; segments 4 or 5, deltoid or suborbicular, ca 0.3 x 0.5 mm; disc cushion-shaped, enclosing the bases of filaments, pubescent; stamens 2, 1.2 - 2.5 mm long; anthers ca 0.6 mm broad. Female inflorescences simple or rarely once-branched, 2 - 5 cm long; bracts as in male. Female flowers: pedicels 0.5 - 1.5 (-3) mm long; calyx urceolate, 1 - 1.5 x ca 1.2 mm; segments 4, triangular or deltoid, ca 0.5 mm long; disc annular; ovary ovoid, ca 1 x 1 mm, glabrous; styles terminal, 0.5 - 1 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid to suborbicular or often broadly oblong, somewhat laterally compressed, with short terminal persistent style at apex, 4 - 6 x 3 - 5 mm, glabrous, often white pustulate; fruiting pedicels 2 - 3 mm long.
Fl. & Fr. March - Oct.; Fr. June - Jan.
Distrib. India: Common throughout India (excl. Andaman & Nicobar Islands) in evergreen or deciduous forests, borders of forests, scrubs, foothills and tropical Himalayan forests, Sal and bamboo forests, up to 1200 m in S. & NE. India and 1500 m on the Himalayas.
Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, S. China, Indo-China and Java. Absent in Sri Lanka and Malesia (except Java).
Uses. The fruits are edible. The leaves are used in curry.
Shrubs, 1 - 3 m high or rarely trees up to 15 m tall, deciduous. Leaves obovate to oblanceolate or oblong to elliptic, cuneate or acute at base, acute to apiculate at apex, (2 -) 5 – 12 (- 16) x 1.5 - 7 cm, membranous to chartaceous, glabrous above, sparsely pilose on midrib or occasionally tomentellous beneath; lateral nerves 3 - 8 pairs; petioles 1 - 5 (- 10) x 0.6 - 2 mm. Male inflorescences axillary and terminal, simple, 1 or 2 (- few)-branched, 2 - 12 cm long; bracts 0.5 - 1 mm long, ciliate. Male flowers: pedicels 0.5 - 1.5 mm long; calyx cup-shaped, 0.8 - 1 x 1 -1.3 mm; segments 4 or 5, deltoid or suborbicular, ca 0.3 x 0.5 mm; disc cushion-shaped, enclosing the bases of filaments, pubescent; stamens 2, 1.2 - 2.5 mm long; anthers ca 0.6 mm broad. Female inflorescences simple or rarely once-branched, 2 - 5 cm long; bracts as in male. Female flowers: pedicels 0.5 - 1.5 (-3) mm long; calyx urceolate, 1 - 1.5 x ca 1.2 mm; segments 4, triangular or deltoid, ca 0.5 mm long; disc annular; ovary ovoid, ca 1 x 1 mm, glabrous; styles terminal, 0.5 - 1 mm long. Fruits ellipsoid to suborbicular or often broadly oblong, somewhat laterally compressed, with short terminal persistent style at apex, 4 - 6 x 3 - 5 mm, glabrous, often white pustulate; fruiting pedicels 2 - 3 mm long.
Fl. & Fr. March - Oct.; Fr. June - Jan.
Distrib. India: Common throughout India (excl. Andaman & Nicobar Islands) in evergreen or deciduous forests, borders of forests, scrubs, foothills and tropical Himalayan forests, Sal and bamboo forests, up to 1200 m in S. & NE. India and 1500 m on the Himalayas.
Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, S. China, Indo-China and Java. Absent in Sri Lanka and Malesia (except Java).
Uses. The fruits are edible. The leaves are used in curry.
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