Premna tomentosa

  • admin_shalini
  • Premna
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Kannada Ije
Malayalam Kozhukkattathekku, Pincha, Naithekku
Others Pincha, Kozhukkattai thekku, Peethai, Irula : Peethaimaram, Purangainari, Naithekku, Podanganari, Malaithekku
Tamil Kolakattai thekku, Malai Thekku, Kolakkatti Thekku
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Trees, to 15 m high, bark greyish-brown, smooth; young parts with stellate tomentum. Leaves simple, opposite, estipulate; petiole 20-50 mm long, slender, tomentose; lamina 6-25 x 5-15 cm, broadly ovate, base obtuse or cordate, apex acuminate, margin entire, densely tawny yellow stellately tomentose, yellowish, chartaceous; lateral nerves 5-7 pairs, densely tomentose beneath, intercostae scalariform. Flowers bisexual, yellow, small, in terminal and axillary corymbs, 7 cm long; calyx tubular, 5-ribbed, lobes 5, stellate pubescent; corolla 7.5 mm across, 4 mm long, tube cylindric, hairy, lobes 5, orbicular; stamens 4, didynamous, 1.5 and 2 mm long; anthers rounded, 0.5 mm; ovary truncate, superior, puberulus; style 3 mm; stigma unequally 2 fid. Fruit a drupe, ovoid, 5-6 mm long, 4 mm across, black, hairy; seeds 4.

Flowering and fruiting: February-April
Dry deciduous forests
Peninsular India and Sri Lanka
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Tree for ID-12072010-RK : Attachments (5). 5 posts by 5 authors.

Request ID of the tree.
Date/Time——– Sun 27th June 2010/ 02.04 pm
Location ——–Bangalore Outskirts
Habitat ——- Wild
Height ———- 5 mtrs [not sure ]
Leaves type —–
Inflorescence ——
Flowers size- Small
Fruits type — Did not notice any

It look like Premna tomentosa (Verbenaceae)

Premna tomentosa is quite a close call the leaves do look tomentose but not sure without any reproductive parts !!

Premna tomentosa bark is used in curdling milk instantly! (by Malayali tribes in TN).
In Tamil, it is known as ‘Pidangu Naari’ i.e. ‘Purangai Naari’. Purangai = the other side of the palm; Naari = foetid/smelling. So just smell the lower surface of leaf, it emits an unpleasant odour, whereas the upper side has no smell!!!
‘Etymology’ of vernacular names!!!

That’s interesting, may be some glandular hairs are present on the lower surface but absent on above….

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Premna tomentosa Willd. SN May 34 : 1 post by 1 author. Attachments (3).

Premna tomentosa Willd., Verbenaceae,
Medium sized tree, leaves aromatic.
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Are the attached specimens Premna tomentosa ? : 5 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (4) – 1 MB or more.
Pl confirm me whether the attached specimens are of Premna tomentosa or not.
A small tree recorded at the bottom of the hillock near the forest side. Leaves are smooth to touch.

It was recorded at Kanchaloor Forest, Katpadi, Vellore Dist, Tamilnadu on 28-06-2015

Yes it seems to be Premna tomentosa.
Leaves should be velvet like brown hairs. It will also give ghee like aroma.

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Plant for id: 1 image.
Location: near Nandhi hills (Bangalore) – 16th June 2011

This plant was hairy probably tomentose hairs. No flowers at this time, it was a shrub.

Looks like Gmelina arboea. However, details (foliage and flower) are needed for confirmation.

U have more photos?
It is feel to me Premna tomentosa or Gmelina arborea.
Need more photos for confirmation

Premna tomentosa ?

Premna tometosa

Also check for Gmelina arborea.

Not Gmelina arborea,

Because
Tender leaves white tomentose …… Gmelina arborea
Tender leaves brown-golden tomentose ……. Premna tomentosa.