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Benkara malabarica
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Family:
RUBIACEAE
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Citation: Benkara malabarica (Lam.) Tirveng., Taxon 32: 440. 1983; Babu, Fl. Malappuram Dist. 318. 1990; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 181. 1995; Sasidh., Fl. Chinnar WLS 145. 1999; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 341. 2009.
Randia malabarica Lam., Encycl. 3: 25.1789; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 3: 111. 1880; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 616(435). 1921.
Griffithia fragrans (Roxb.) Wight & Arn., Prodr. 400. 1834.
Gardenia fragrans Roxb., Pl. Corom. 2: 19. t.137. 1800.
Xeromphis malabarica (Lam.) Raju, Excurs. Himachala. Hills 13. 1966.
Catunaregam malabaricum (Lam.) Sivar. in Manilal & Sivar., Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 131. 1982. 1982.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Cholakara
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Armed large shrubs; spines in axillary pairs. Leaves 2-7 x 1.5-3.5 cm, elliptic, oblanceolate or obovate, base cuneate, apex obtuse or rounded, coriaceous; petiole to 7 mm long. Flowers in axillary corymbose cymes; pedicels 5-7 mm long; bracts and bracteoles free or connate. Calyx c. 4 mm long, tubular; teeth 5, triangular-acute. Corolla white, c. 1.8 cm across, salver-shaped; tube 5-7 mm long; lobes 5, oblong, acute, reflexed. Stamens 5, between the lobes, exserted; anthers c. 7 mm long, linear. Berry 0.8 - 1.2 cm across, subglobose, scarlet. Seeds many, not embedded in pulp.
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Habit:
Shrub
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Flowering & Fruiting:
January-May
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District(s):
Alappuzha, Kozhikkode, Idukki, Kollam, Malappuram, Thrissur
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Moist deciduous forests and scrub jungles
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Distribution:
Peninsular India and Sri Lanka
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
White, Yellow
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
No
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
No
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Vegetable:
No
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Mangavada, Vandanam, Ariankavu
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