Drypetes wightii
(Hook.f.) Pax & K.Hoffm. in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV.147.xv (heft 81): 273.
1922; Chakrab. et al. in J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 21: 277, f. 8. 1997. Hemicyclia wightii Hook.f., Fl.
Brit. India 5: 339. 1887; Gamble, Fl. Madras 2(7): 1300. 1925 (repr. ed. 2: 909. 1957).
Mal.: Vella-kasavu; Tam.: Vellelambu.
Small trees; branchlets glabrous. Leaves elliptic to oblong-elliptic, oblique and acute at base, entire, acuminate at apex, 4 - 9 x 1.5 - 3.5 cm, thinly coriaceous, glabrous; lateral nerves 6 - 9 pairs; minor nerves running more or less parallel to each another and forming squarish or rectangular areoles, sometimes branching into veins of higher order; petioles 3 - 5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, also in the axils of fallen leaves. Male flowers: pedicels 3 - 5 mm long; sepals 4 or 5, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, ca 3 x 2 - 2.5 mm, tomentellous outside; stamens 6 - 10, 1 - 1.5 mm long; anthers oblong, ca 0.5 mm long; disc entire. Female flowers: pedicels 4 - 5 mm long; sepals 4 or 5, suborbicular, 3 - 4 x 2.5 - 3.5 mm, tomentellous outside; disc annular; ovary ellipsoid, ca 2 x 1 mm, 1-locular, sparsely puberulous to glabrous; stigmas 2, reniform, ca 1 mm across. Fruits ovoid to ellipsoid, 17 - 20 x ca 15 mm, smooth, glabrous; pedicels 10 - 20 mm long.
Fl. & Fr. Dec. - April.
Distrib. India: Evergreen forests, between 900 - 1550 m altitudes, rare. Kerala and Tamil Nadu (noted to be very common at or near Kodaikanal).
Endemic.
Small trees; branchlets glabrous. Leaves elliptic to oblong-elliptic, oblique and acute at base, entire, acuminate at apex, 4 - 9 x 1.5 - 3.5 cm, thinly coriaceous, glabrous; lateral nerves 6 - 9 pairs; minor nerves running more or less parallel to each another and forming squarish or rectangular areoles, sometimes branching into veins of higher order; petioles 3 - 5 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, also in the axils of fallen leaves. Male flowers: pedicels 3 - 5 mm long; sepals 4 or 5, broadly elliptic to suborbicular, ca 3 x 2 - 2.5 mm, tomentellous outside; stamens 6 - 10, 1 - 1.5 mm long; anthers oblong, ca 0.5 mm long; disc entire. Female flowers: pedicels 4 - 5 mm long; sepals 4 or 5, suborbicular, 3 - 4 x 2.5 - 3.5 mm, tomentellous outside; disc annular; ovary ellipsoid, ca 2 x 1 mm, 1-locular, sparsely puberulous to glabrous; stigmas 2, reniform, ca 1 mm across. Fruits ovoid to ellipsoid, 17 - 20 x ca 15 mm, smooth, glabrous; pedicels 10 - 20 mm long.
Fl. & Fr. Dec. - April.
Distrib. India: Evergreen forests, between 900 - 1550 m altitudes, rare. Kerala and Tamil Nadu (noted to be very common at or near Kodaikanal).
Endemic.
