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Dichrostachys cinerea
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Family:
FABACEAE/LEGUMINOSAE (Subfam.: Mimosoideae)
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Citation: Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn., Prodr. 271. 1834; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 2: 288. 1878; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 419(297). 1919; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 149. 1985; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 187. 1990; Sanjappa, Legumes Ind. 64. 1992; Sasidh., Fl. Chinnar WLS 122. 1999.
Mimosa cinera L., Sp. Pl. 520. 1753, non L. 517. 1753.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Veeravriksham, Vidatthal, Vedathala
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Kalahari Christmas tree, Marabou-thorn, Princess's Earrings, Sickle bush
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Description:
Small thorny trees; to 6 m high spines axillary, straight, often leaf bearing; bark grey or brownish, with vertical fissures, peeling off in thin flake; branchlets densely pubescent, spine-tipped. Leaves bipinnate, alternate, stipulate; stipules 2, minute, lateral; rachis 30-65 mm, slender, pulvinate, pubescent; pinnae 5-15 pairs, 1.5-2 cm, opposite, even pinnate, slender, pulvinate, pubescent, with a gland between each pairs; leaflets 24-50, opposite, sessile, estipellate; lamina 0.2-0.3 x 0.1 cm, oblong, base obtuse, apex acute, margin entire, ciliate, tomentose, chartaceous; nerves obscure. Flowers polygamous, 2 mm across, in solitary or axillary paired spikes; upper flowers bisexual, yellow; lower ones neutar, pink or purple; bracts oblong; calyx tube campanulate, lobes 5; petals 5, lanceolate connate below, pubescent, valvate; stamens 10, free, exserted, anthers ending in stalked glands; ovary 0.5 mm, subssessile, pubescent; style 3 mm; stigma terminal, truncate. Fruit a pod, linear, flat, coiled, continuous within, indehiscent or opening from apex; seeds 4-6, ovoid, compressed.
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Habit:
Tree
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Flowering & Fruiting:
October-January
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District(s):
Kasaragode, Idukki, Palakkad
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Dry deciduous forests
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Distribution:
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):
Yellow, Pink
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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:
Chinnar, Walayar, Peradala
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