1280

  Hugonia mystax  Cav.

Family	:	Linaceae
Local name	:	English-Climbing flax Malayalam-Kaarthotti
Flowering and fruiting period	:	August-October
Distribution	:	India and Sri Lanka
Distribution in kerala	:	Alappuzha, Kollam, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Kozhikkode, Thrissur
Habitat	:	Moist deciduous forests, also scrub jungles of the plains
Uses	:	Medicinal
Key botanical characters: Rambling or climbing shrubs; branches yellow-tomentose; branchlets short, horizontal with leaflets towards base. Leaves alternate, tapering at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, 3-8 x 1-3.5 cm, hairy on midnerve; lateral nerves prominent on both surfaces; petioles ca 4 mm long, hairy. Peduncles axillary, ca 1mm long, yellow tomentose; bracts subulate, ca 7 mm long. Flowers ca 2.5 cm across. Sepals imbricate, ovate-lanceolate, ca 7 x 3 mm, fulvous pubescent. Petals shortly unguiculate, ca 12 x 7 mm, unequal, twisted, yellow. Stamens 8-10 mm long, alternately long and short; anthers cordate-ovate, erect, 2-loculed, opening by 2-longitudinal clefts. Ovary globose, glabrous; ovules pendulous; styles ca 4 mm long; stigmas lobed. Drupes globose, ca 1 mm, surrounded by persistent scarlet sepals.