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Clerodendrum heterophyllum
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Family:
VERBENACEAE
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Citation: Clerodendrum heterophyllum (Poir.) R. Br. in Ait.f., Hort. Kew (ed. 2) 4: 64. 1812; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 233. 1982; Sivar. & Manilal Journ. Econ. Tax. Bot. 3: 814. 1982; Rajendran & Daniel, Indian Verbenaceae 107. 2002.
Volkameria heterophylla Poir., Encycl. 8: 687. 1808.
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Malayalam Name(s):
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Clerodendron, Tree of little stars
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Description:
Shrub, 2-3 m high; branches slender, subterete or obtusely 4-angular, densely greyish pubescent, glabrous when mature, sulcate when dry, lenticellate; nodes annulate, swollen; internodes much abbreviated, 0.5-6 cm long; leaf-scars circular, prominent. Leaves decussate-opposite or ternate, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, cuneate at base, entire-undulate along margins, acute at apex, 2.5-7 x 1-3.5 cm, chartaceous, bright green on both surfaces or slightly paler beneath, pubescent on both surfaces when young, nearly glabrous when mature; lateral nerves 6-7 pairs, ascending, forming a loop near margin, obscure above, distinct beneath; petioles canaliculate, slender, 4-10 mm long, pubescent. Corymbs crowded near tip of branches, axillary and terminal, composed of 3-4 decussate-opposite few-flowered cymes, 2-6 x 2.5-5 cm; peduncles terete, slender, 1-2.5 cm long; bractlets linear or subulate, 3-5 mm long, pubescent; pedicels slender, 3-7 mm long. Calyx campanulate, minutely subentire or 5-toothed, ca 3 x 2 mm, teeth minute, linear or rounded, glandular, minutely pubescent outside. Corolla hypocrateriform, 5-lobed, greenish white or cream-coloured; lobes subequal, oblong or obovate-oblong, obtuse, 2-6 x 2-3 mm; tube narrow, cylindric, ampliate towards apex, ca 10 x 2 mm, pubescent outside. Stamens 4, didynamous; filaments filiform, 1-1.5 cm long, glabrous, white, exserted; anthers oblong, yellow. Ovary globose or obovoid-globose, 1-1.5 mm long, green; style filiform, 1.5-2 cm long, white; stigma 2-lobed; lobes equal, subulate. Drupes subglobose, 5-7 mm across, black when mature, glabrous; fruiting-calyx cupular, 4-5 x 6-8 mm, irregularly splitting to base, glabrous.
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Habit:
Shrub
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Flowering & Fruiting:
February-December
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District(s):
Kozhikkode, Thrissur, Palakkad
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Grown as hedge plant
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Distribution:
Native of Mascarene islands
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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):
Creamy, White, Green
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
Yes
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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:
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