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Cayratia japonica
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Family:
VITACEAE
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Citation: Cayratia japonica (Thunb.) Gagnep. in Lecomte, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 1: 349. 1911; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 237(169). 1918; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 103. 1985; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 123. 1990; M. Mohanan & Henry, Fl. Thiruvanthapuram 120. 1994; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 112. 1996; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 150. 1997; Shetty & P. Singh in N.P. Singh et al., Fl. India 5: 269. 2000; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 132. 2005; B.V. Shetty & P. Singh in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 742. 2005; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 232. 2009.
Vitis japonica Thunb., Fl. Jap. 104. 1784.
Vitis tenuifolia Wight & Arn., Prodr. 129. 1834 p.p.; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 660. 1875.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Bush killer
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Description:
Scandent herb; branches subterete, striate, pubescent; tendrils branched or not, slender. Leaves 5-foliolate, pedate, glabrous to pubescent. Petioles 3-8 cm long; terminal leaflet ovate, orbicular-ovate to elliptic, cuneate to acute or rounded at base, serrate at margin, acuminate to acute at apex, 4-8.5 x 3-4 cm; petiolules 1-2 cm long; lateral leaflets slightly oblique at base with apex and margin as in terminal leaflet, 2.5-6.5 x 1.5-3 cm; petiolules 3-10 mm long. Inflorescences 7-16 cm long; peduncles 5-10 cm long, pubescent to glabrous. Flower buds ovoid, pubescent; pedicels 1-2 mm long, pubescent. Calyx saucer-like. Petals oblong, ca 1.5 x 0.9 mm. Disc covering ovary. Berries ca 7 mm across, 3-4 seeded. Seeds obovoid, acute at base, ca 5 x 4 mm with a longitudinal ridge in middle and a pit on either side of it on adaxial surface, with a linear chalazal knot prominently rugose at sides on abaxial surface; endosperm T-shaped in cross section.
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Habit:
Climber
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Flowering & Fruiting:
March-June
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District(s):
Kasaragode, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Wayanad
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Moist deciduous forests
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Distribution:
Indo-Malesia
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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
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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:
Peechi, Lower Moozhiar, Karimbam, Mukkali forests, Vadapuram
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