Drypetes venusta is an evergreen tree species endemic to the Western Ghats, India.[2] They are large trees with smooth, straight, and white trunk and horizontal branches. It can reach a height up to 35 m, and a girth up to 3 m.

Drypetes venusta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Putranjivaceae
Genus: Drypetes
Species:
D. venusta
Binomial name
Drypetes venusta
(Wight) Pax & K.Hoffm.
Synonyms[1]
  • Astylis venusta Wight
  • Hemicyclia venusta (Wight) Thwaites
  • Drypetes elata (Bedd.) Pax & K.Hoffm.
  • Hemicyclia elata Bedd.

Description edit

The leaves are simple with alternate phyllotaxy and elliptic or elliptic oblong shape. Leaf size is about 5-12 × 2-5 cm. Leaf base is oblique, and apex is acute or shortly acuminate. There will be 8-12 pairs secondary nerves. The petiole length is 0.4-1 cm. Flowers are dioecious, and greenish yellow in colour. The male flowers are seen in axillary clusters with pedicel length of 1-1.5 cm. The female flowers are axillary, seen either solitary or in pairs, with pedicel length up to 6 cm. Fruit are ellipsoid or obovoid, green in colour, and drooping.[3]

Distribution edit

This is a common tree in low and medium elevation evergreen forests of Western Ghats from Lonavala to Thiruvananthapuram. The altitudinal range is from 200 m to 1200 m.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "Drypetes venusta". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Page, Navendu (2017). Endemic Woody Plants of the Western Ghats. Bangalore: Trail Blazer Printers and Publishers. ISBN 978-93-5279-072-2.
  3. ^ "Drypetes elata". indiabiodiversity.org. Biodiversity India. Retrieved 23 October 2022.