Samadera indica
Gaertner, Fruct. 2: 352. t. 156. f. 3. 1791; A.W. Bennett in Hook. f. Fl. Brit. India 1: 519. 1875. S. Lucida (Wallich) Planchon in Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 5: 562. 1846. Quassia indica (Gaertner) Nooteb. in Steenis, Fl. Males. ser. 1. 6: 199.1962; Nicolson et al. Interpr. Hort. Malab. 245. 1988.
Kan.: Nipa, Samadera; Mal.: Karinjotta; Mar.: Kokhanji; Tam.: Nibam, Niepa,
Karinjottei.
Evergreen shrubs or low glabrous trees, 10 - 12 m high with stout branches. Leaves, elliptic-oblong, acute-acuminate at apex, sub-acute to rounded at base; 9 - 30 x 3.5 - 11 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, glossy, reticulately nerved. Petioles 1 - 2 cm long, stout. Flowers 20 or more in an umbelliform glabrous or puberulous inflorescence; peduncles 7 - 30 cm long, flattened, thickened at apex; pedicels 10 - 15 mm long, longer in fruits(up to 3 cm), articulate in lower half; bracts minute. Calyx 2 - 3 mm long, 4-lobed; lobes thick, about as long as tube or longer, semiorbicular, puberulous outside. Petals 4, free, oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, 15 - 20 x 4 mm ,dorsally pubescent, white or pale yellow or purplish. Stamens 8, 8 - 12 mm long, pubescent; anthers lanceolate-oblong, 2 - 3 mm, filaments puberulous. Ovary free, ca 2 x 2 mm, puberulous, styles glabrous, up to 2 mm long. Drupes 1 - 4,4 - 6 x 2.5 - 4 cm; flattened, with glands on pericarps, smooth, reticulate; seeds large.
Fl. & Fr. Almost throughout the year.
Distrib. India: Evergreen forests and along back-waters and sandy places in W. Ghats and Deccan plateau. Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Andaman Islands.
Myanmar, Sri Lanka.
Uses. It is the source of niepa bark of commerce; wood used for packing cases and cheap and light furniture and in match industry. Most parts are of medicinal value.
Evergreen shrubs or low glabrous trees, 10 - 12 m high with stout branches. Leaves, elliptic-oblong, acute-acuminate at apex, sub-acute to rounded at base; 9 - 30 x 3.5 - 11 cm, coriaceous, glabrous, glossy, reticulately nerved. Petioles 1 - 2 cm long, stout. Flowers 20 or more in an umbelliform glabrous or puberulous inflorescence; peduncles 7 - 30 cm long, flattened, thickened at apex; pedicels 10 - 15 mm long, longer in fruits(up to 3 cm), articulate in lower half; bracts minute. Calyx 2 - 3 mm long, 4-lobed; lobes thick, about as long as tube or longer, semiorbicular, puberulous outside. Petals 4, free, oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse, 15 - 20 x 4 mm ,dorsally pubescent, white or pale yellow or purplish. Stamens 8, 8 - 12 mm long, pubescent; anthers lanceolate-oblong, 2 - 3 mm, filaments puberulous. Ovary free, ca 2 x 2 mm, puberulous, styles glabrous, up to 2 mm long. Drupes 1 - 4,4 - 6 x 2.5 - 4 cm; flattened, with glands on pericarps, smooth, reticulate; seeds large.
Fl. & Fr. Almost throughout the year.
Distrib. India: Evergreen forests and along back-waters and sandy places in W. Ghats and Deccan plateau. Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Andaman Islands.
Myanmar, Sri Lanka.
Uses. It is the source of niepa bark of commerce; wood used for packing cases and cheap and light furniture and in match industry. Most parts are of medicinal value.
