1260
Xylia xylocarpa (Roxb.) Taub.,
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Synonym |
: |
Acacia xylocarpa |
|
Family |
: |
Fabaceae |
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Local name |
: |
Malayalam-Irumullu |
|
Flowering and fruiting period |
: |
February-December |
|
Distribution |
: |
Indo-Malesia |
|
Distribution in kerala |
: |
All Districts |
|
Habitat |
: |
Moist deciduous forests, also in the
plains |
|
Uses |
: |
The wood pulp may be
used for making wrapping paper. The seeds of this tree are edible. This tree
is considered a medicinal plant |
|
Key botanical characters : Deciduous trees; to 20 m high; bole
often fluted; bark 10-15 mm thick, reddish-brown, mottled with white, rough,
exfoliations irregular; brittle. Leaves bipinnate, alternate, pinnae 2,
opposite, even pinnate 8-30 cm, slender, glabrous, leaflets 4-18, opposite,
with a gland between each pairs; 5-33.5 x 2.5-6 cm, oblong-acuminate,
elliptic or elliptic-oblong, apex acute or acuminate, base obtuse or acute,
margin entire, glabrous, coriaceous; stipules small, free, lateral,
deciduous; rachis 4-18 cm long, stout, glabrous, pulvinate, with an orbicular
gland at tip; lateral nerves 6-12 pairs, pinnate, prominent; intercostae
reticulate. Flowers bisexual, sessile, dull yellow, in axillary globose
heads; bracteole club shaped. Calyx 4 mm long, tubular, 5-toothed. Petals 5,
1.5 cm long, linear, slightly connate at base, valvate. Stamens 10, free,
exserted, filaments slender; anthers tipped with a stalked gland which is
early deciduous. Ovary sessile, style filiform; stigma terminal. Fruit a pod
10-15 x 5-6 cm, flat, broadly falcate, woody, compressed, dehiscent, septate
between the seeds; seeds 4-10, oblong, compressed, brown, shining. |
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