Antidesma alexiteria
L., Sp. Pl. 1027. 1753, p. p.; Lam., Encycl. 1: 206. 1783; Hook.f., Fl.
Brit. India 5: 359. 1887; Chakrab. & M.Gangop. in J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 24: 11. f. 2. 2000. A.
zeylanicum Lam., l. c. 207. 1783 (as 'zeylanica'); Gamble, Fl. Madras 2(7): 1297. 1925 (repr. ed. 2:
908. 1957).
Sinh.: Hinembilla.
Shrubs or trees, 1 - 8 m tall; branchlets apparently verticillate, glabrous. Leaves elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, acute or often rounded at base, acuminate to apiculate at apex, 3.5 - 10 (- 15) x 1.5 - 3 (- 4.5) cm, chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, glossy, glabrous; lateral nerves 5 - 12 pairs; petioles 1.5 - 5 x 0.5 - 1 mm, glabrous; stipules caducous. Male inflorescences terminal and axillary spikes, 2 or 3-together, simple or once branched, 3 - 6 cm long, lax-flowered; flowers subsessile; calyx ca 0.5 x 1.5 mm; lobes (3 -) 4 or 5, orbicular to deltoid, ca 0.5 x 0.5 mm, hairy; disc button-like; stamens 3, ca 1.5 mm long, inserted in the excavations of the disc; anther-thecae orbicular, ca 0.4 mm across. Female inflorescences terminal and axillary, 1 or 2 together, simple or sometimes branched, 2 - 6 cm long; flowers subsessile; calyx ca 0.7 x 1 mm; lobes 4, triangular or deltoid; ovary ovoid, ca 1 x 0.6 mm, glabrous; styles 2 or 3, ca 0.5 mm long, bifid, subterminal. Fruits gibbously-suborbicular turgid, lenticular or broadly obliquely ellipsoid, 4 - 5 (- 6) x 3 - 4 (- 5) mm, irregularly alveolate, often white pustulate, glabrous; style subterminal; fruiting pedicels ca 1 x 0.5 mm.
Fl. Nov. - June; Fr. Apr. - Oct.
Distrib. India: Common in evergreen forests, between 100 and 1200 m altitudes. Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Sri Lanka.
Shrubs or trees, 1 - 8 m tall; branchlets apparently verticillate, glabrous. Leaves elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, acute or often rounded at base, acuminate to apiculate at apex, 3.5 - 10 (- 15) x 1.5 - 3 (- 4.5) cm, chartaceous to thinly coriaceous, glossy, glabrous; lateral nerves 5 - 12 pairs; petioles 1.5 - 5 x 0.5 - 1 mm, glabrous; stipules caducous. Male inflorescences terminal and axillary spikes, 2 or 3-together, simple or once branched, 3 - 6 cm long, lax-flowered; flowers subsessile; calyx ca 0.5 x 1.5 mm; lobes (3 -) 4 or 5, orbicular to deltoid, ca 0.5 x 0.5 mm, hairy; disc button-like; stamens 3, ca 1.5 mm long, inserted in the excavations of the disc; anther-thecae orbicular, ca 0.4 mm across. Female inflorescences terminal and axillary, 1 or 2 together, simple or sometimes branched, 2 - 6 cm long; flowers subsessile; calyx ca 0.7 x 1 mm; lobes 4, triangular or deltoid; ovary ovoid, ca 1 x 0.6 mm, glabrous; styles 2 or 3, ca 0.5 mm long, bifid, subterminal. Fruits gibbously-suborbicular turgid, lenticular or broadly obliquely ellipsoid, 4 - 5 (- 6) x 3 - 4 (- 5) mm, irregularly alveolate, often white pustulate, glabrous; style subterminal; fruiting pedicels ca 1 x 0.5 mm.
Fl. Nov. - June; Fr. Apr. - Oct.
Distrib. India: Common in evergreen forests, between 100 and 1200 m altitudes. Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Sri Lanka.
