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Oxystelma esculentum
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Family:
ASCLEPIADACEAE
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Citation: Oxystelma esculentum (L. f.) R.Br. ex Schultes in L., Syst. Veg. 6: 89, 1820; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 4: 17. 1883; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 2: 833 (586). 1923.
Periploca esculenta L. f., Suppl. Pl. 168. 1781.
Asclepias rosea Roxb., Fl. Ind. 2: 40. 1832.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Kulappala
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
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Description:
Twinging subshrubs. Leaves simple,opposite, 4-8 x 0.5-2 cm, oblong to linear, subcoriaceous, base truncate, apex mucronate; petiole ca. 1 cm. Flower(s) usually paired, axillary, solitary or in lax racemes; peduncle 6-15 cm; bracts deciduous; pedicel ca. 1 cm. Calyx cupular; lobes equal, ovate, imbricate, 4 mm, chartaceous, glabrous, acute. Corolla white or pink with dark pink stripes within, 2.5 cm across, rotate to angulate; lobes triangular, united at the mid half, valvate, 2 cm, shortly overlapping to right in bud, chartaceous, ciliate, acute, recurved. Pollinia pendulous; pollinial bags oblong, 1.3 mm; caudicle 0.2 mm. Corona double; outer corolline, annular, pubescent at the base of corolla within; inner staminal, basally inflated, 5 mm; staminal column 7 mm. Ovaries globose, 3 mm; placenta bifurcate; style 4 mm. Follicle 5 x 2 cm, inflated, mucronate; seeds ovate, 2.5 x 2 mm, base rounded, apex pointed; coma silky, dull white.
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Habit:
Climber
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Flowering & Fruiting:
September-April
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District(s):
Palakkad, Thrissur
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Medicinal:
Yes
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Habitat:
Scrub jungles
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Distribution:
West Asia to 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, Rose
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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:
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