Reissantia indica

Reissantia indica (Willd.) N. Hallé, Bull. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. sér. 2, 30:466. 1958 (Syn. Hippocratea beccarii Tuyn; Hippocratea cassinoides DC.; Hippocratea disperma Vahl (ambiguous synonym); (Hippocratea euonymoides Vahl; Hippocratea fuscescens Kurz; (≡) Hippocratea indica Willd. (basionym); Hippocratea lobbii M. Laws.; Hippocratea obtusifolia Wall. (ambiguous synonym); Hippocratea pentandra Griff.; Pristimera indica (Willd.) A. C. Sm.; Reissantia cassinoides (DC.) Ding Hou; Tontelea disperma (Vahl) Poir.);
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Java, India (Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Bangladesh, peninsular Malaysia (Perlis, Penang Isl., Pahan), +Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar [Burma] (widespread), Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, China (Guangdong, Hainan), Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Isl. (Lombok, Sumbawa, Timor), Borneo, Philippines (Luzon, Lubang, Mindoro, Mindanao), Sulawesi, S-Sumatra (incl. Bangka Isl.), Borneo as per Catalogue of Life;
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¿ pris-tee-MER-a ? — derivation obscure
IN-dih-kuh or in-DEE-kuh — of or from India … Dave’s Botanary
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commonly known as: mopane paddle-pod • Bengali: আতরি লতা atari lata, কাঠ পাহাড়িয়া katha pahariya • Hindi: गुथुलीलाठी guthulilati, कांचीकीलाठी kanchikilati • Kachari: sibrai-ia-dam • Kannada: ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮಾತ್ರೀ ಬಳ್ಳಿ dodda maatri balli, ಕಾಂಗುಣ ಬಳ್ಳಿ kaanguna balli • Konkani: व्हडली धवस vhadli dhavas • Kuki: bom-pel-thing • Malayalam: ചെറിയ ചതുരമുല്ല cheriya chathuramulla, ഓടൻ കൊടി oodan kodi • Marathi: मोठी दौशीर mothi daushir • Odia: କାଠ ପାହାଡ଼ିଆ katha pahariya • Tamil: மொரசரகொடி morasarakodi, ஓடங்கொடி odankodi • Telugu: వెర్రియాప verriyaapa • Tulu: ಮಲ್ಲ ಮಾದೆರಿ ಬಳ್ಳು malla maderi ballu
Names compiled / updated at https://dineshvalke.blogspot.com/2024/05/reissantia-indica-willd-nhalle.html
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Woody climbers with looping branchlets. Leaves opposite, to 12 x 7 cm, obovate, obtusely acute, attenuate to the base; nerves 4 or 5 pairs, ascending; petiole 1 cm long. Flowers in axillary drooping panicles, pedicellate; sepals 5, ovate, acute, glabrous; petals 5, 3 x 1 mm, oblong, curved, glabrous; stamens 3, filaments short curved out; ovary 3-celled, sunken in the disk; ovules 2-10 in each cell. Fruit a winged samara.

Flowering and fruiting: March-April
Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests
Indo-Malesia
Seen this Climber at Uttar Kannada (Gersoppa Ghat).
Bot. name: Reissantia indica (Willd.) N.Hallé
Syn: Hippocratea indica Willd.; Pristimera indica;
Family: Celastraceae


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Celastraceae fortnight :: Reissantia indica along Gersoppa Ghat :: DV14 : 1 post by 1 author. 1 image.
Reissantia indica (Willd.) N. Hallé … also placed in Hippocrateaceae
along Gersoppa Ghat on 16 MAR 13



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Celastraceae fortnight :: Reissantia indica at Sudhagad :: PKA2 : Attachments (1). 1 post by 1 author.
Came across this Shrub at Sudhagad (near Pali- Maharashtra).
Bot. name: Reissantia indica


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via Species‎ > ‎P‎ > Pristimera indica (Willd.) A.C.Sm. … family: Celastraceae ~ Hippocrateaceae
Flowers of India Discussions at efloraofindia more views in flickr more views on Google Earth
¿ pris-tee-MER-a ? — derivation obscure
IN-dih-kuh or in-DEE-kuh — of or from IndiaDave’s Botanary
commonly known as: mopane paddle-podKannada: ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮಾದೆರಿ ಬಳ್ಳಿ dodda maderiballi, ಕಾಂಗುಣ ಬಳ್ಳಿ kangunaballiTamil: மொரசரக்கொடி moracarakkotiTelugu: వెర్రియాప verriyaapaTulu: ಮಲ್ಲ ಮಾದೆರಿ ಬಳ್ಳು malla maderi ballu
botanical names: Pristimera indica (Willd.) A.C.Sm. … synonyms: Hippocratea indica Willd. • Reissantia indica (Willd.) N.Hallé … Tropicos
March 16, 2013 … along Gersoppa Ghat

¿ rey-SAN-shi-ah ? — in honour of Charles Tisserant, a French clergyman, botanist and plant collector … Wikipedia

IN-dih-kuh or in-DEE-kuh — of or from India … Dave’s Botanary

commonly known as: mopane paddle-pod • Bengali: আতরি লতা atari lata, কাঠ পাহাড়িয়া katha pahariya • Hindi: गुथुलीलाठी guthulilati, कांचीकीलाठी kanchikilati • Kachari: sibrai-ia-dam • Kannada: ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮಾತ್ರೀ ಬಳ್ಳಿ dodda maatri balli, ಕಾಂಗುಣ ಬಳ್ಳಿ kaanguna balli • Konkani: व्हडली धवस vhadli dhavas • Kuki: bom-pel-thing • Malayalam: ചെറിയ ചതുരമുല്ല cheriya chathuramulla, ഓടൻ കൊടി oodan kodi • Marathi: मोठी दौशीर mothi daushir • Odia: କାଠ ପାହାଡ଼ିଆ katha pahariya • Tamil: மொரசரகொடி morasarakodi, ஓடங்கொடி odankodi • Telugu: వెర్రియాప verriyaapa • Tulu: ಮಲ್ಲ ಮಾದೆರಿ ಬಳ್ಳು malla maderi ballu

botanical namesReissantia indica (Willd.) N.Hallé … homotypic synonymsHippocratea indica Willd. • Pristimera indica (Willd.) A.C.Sm. … accepted infraspecifics, and their synonyms at POWO, retrieved 19 May 2024

Bibliography / etymology

Links listed as references in the notes below, may not remain valid permanently. Portals / websites have a tendency to re-organize / revise their content, leading to change in URLs of pages in their site. Some sites may even close down at their own will.

~~~~~ ENGLISH ~~~~~
written and spoken widely, in most parts of India
mopane paddle-pod
~~~~~ BENGALI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali (বাংলা) … spoken in: West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
আতরি লতা atari lata
  • Many thanks to Dr Akramul Hoque for help with this name … facebook
  • for Hippocratea indica Willd. … Flora of Assam Vol I (Part II) by U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, C Purkayastha
কাঠ পাহাড়িয়া katha pahariya
~~~~~ HINDI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (हिन्दी) … spoken in: Uttar PradeshBiharMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
गुथुलीलाठी guthulilati, कांचीकीलाठी kanchikilati
~~~~~ KACHARI ~~~~~
written in: Bengali-Assamese, Devanagari, Latin … spoken in: Assam, Nagaland … other names for this language: Plains Kachari (Boro or Bara) and Hill Kachari (Dimasa)
sibrai-ia-dam
  • for Hippocratea indica Willd. … Flora of Assam Vol I (Part II) by U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, C Purkayastha
~~~~~ KANNADA ~~~~~
written in: Kannada (ಕನ್ನಡ) … spoken in: Karnataka
ದೊಡ್ಡ ಮಾತ್ರೀ ಬಳ್ಳಿ dodda maatri balli
ಕಾಂಗುಣ ಬಳ್ಳಿ kaanguna balli
~~~~~ KONKANI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (कोंकणी), Kannada (ಕೊಂಕಣಿ), Malayalam (കൊങ്കണി), Perso-Arabic (کونکنی), Romi (Konknni) … spoken in: Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat
व्हडली धवस vhadli dhavas
  • name coined, for want of name; व्हडली vhadli = large, big; धवस dhavas = name given to Hippocratea obtusifolia Roxb.
~~~~~ KUKI ~~~~~
written in: Roman … spoken in: Manipur, Assam, Nagaland … other names for this language:Thado, Thado-Pao, Thado-Ubiphei, Thaadou Kuki
bom-pel-thing
  • for Hippocratea indica Willd. … Flora of Assam Vol I (Part II) by U N Kanjilal, P C Kanjilal, A Das, C Purkayastha
~~~~~ MALAYALAM ~~~~~
written in: Malayalam (മലയാളം) … spoken in: Kerala, Lakshadweep
ചെറിയ ചതുരമുല്ല cheriya chathuramulla, ഓടൻ കൊടി oodan kodi
  • Many thanks to VC Balakrishnan for help with these names … facebook
~~~~~ MARATHI ~~~~~
written in: Devanagari (मराठी) … spoken in: Maharashtra, Karnataka
मोठी दौशीर mothi daushir
  • name coined, for want of name; मोठी mothi = large, big; दौशीर daushir = name given to Reissantia grahamii (Wight) Ding Hou
~~~~~ ODIA ~~~~~
written in: Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) … spoken in: Odisha, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
କାଠ ପାହାଡ଼ିଆ katha pahariya
~~~~~ TAMIL ~~~~~
written in: Tamil (தமிழ்) … spoken in: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands
மொரசரகொடி morasarakodi
ஓடங்கொடி odankodi
~~~~~ TELUGU ~~~~~
written in: Telugu ( తెలుగు) … spoken in: Andhra PradeshTelangana, Puducherry
వెర్రియాప verriyaapa
~~~~~ TULU ~~~~~
written in: Tigalari (Tulu) was used for writing Vedic texts in Sanskrit, Kannada (ತುಳು), Malayalam (തുളു) … spoken in: Karnataka, north Kerala
ಮಲ್ಲ ಮಾದೆರಿ ಬಳ್ಳು malla maderi ballu
~~~~~ DISTRIBUTION in INDIA ~~~~~
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, * Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal

* distribution doubtful

~~~~~ Last updated: 11:29 20-05-2024 ~~~~~
Names compiled / updated at
https://dineshvalke.blogspot.com/2024/05/reissantia-indica-willd-nhalle.html


Both Malayalam and English spellings are correct,


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281224MRC1 Identity the species: 2 high res. images.
Posting again as clubbed due to exactly the same subject from …
Collected from East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh 


no flower, based on leaf it looks Colubrina asiatica of Rhamnaceae


No madam its different from Colubrina asiatica!


Hyppocratea ?


Thank you … its
Reissantia indica (Willd.) N.Hallé
Syn. Hippocratea indica Willd.


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070225PKD1: Request for Species Identification, collection date Feb 7 Odisha: 3 high res. images.


Reissantia indica of Celastaceae


is it a vine/ climber?  or a tree? some more details might be helpful for identification

Climber Sir ji


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Tamhini ghat near Pune, MH :: Tree for ID :: ARK2025-076: 3 high res. images.
This tree was seen by the roadside in the Tamhini ghat near Pune, MH in Aug 2025.
Is this Loeseneriella arnottiana?
Requested to please provide ID.


https://efloraofindia.com/efi/loeseneriella-arnottiana/


Yes … I had checked this but could not make up my mind if it was L. arnottiana or Reissantia indica.

https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/FloraPeninsular/plants.php?name=Reissantia%20indica.


Flora of China gives the following description for Reissantia indica (Willdenow) N. Hallé:
Lianas; branchlets green, early slightly quadrangular, then cylindric, glabrous. Petiole 1-1.5 cm, grooved; leaf blade ovate, ovate-elliptic, or rarely lanceolate, 3.5-7(-10) × 2.5-4(-5) cm, papery, base cuneate, distal margin sparsely denticulate, apex subacute; lateral veins 5 or 6 pairs, slender, reticulate veins horizontally spreading. Cymes 3-5 cm; bracts lanceolate, margin sparingly ciliolate; pedicel 8-10 mm. Flowers green-white; sepals ovate-deltoid, ca. 1 mm, membranous, margin irregularly denticulate; petals oblong-deltoid, ca. 1.5 mm. Stamens longer than style; anthers slightly square. Ovary with 4 ovules per locule; style subtriangular. Fruits 1-3-fascicled capsules; capsule narrowly oblong-elliptic, 3-4 × 1-1.5 cm, apex emarginate. Seeds 2, ca. 2.5 cm, wing apex emarginate.

For Loeseneriella arnottianaFOI gives the following description:
Leaves are ovate-elliptic, 10 – 18 x 4 – 7.5 cm, pointed at tip, base blunt, leathery, entire or faintly rounded toothed; venation netveined, prominent. Flowers are borne in cymes in leaf-axils, about 8 mm across. Calyx is 5-lobed; sepals triangular, entire, hairless. Petals are 5, round, with narrow claw, hairless, fringed. Fruit is a samara, narrowly oblong, 8 x 2.5 cm, blunt, striped.
Sometimes conflicting descriptions and details.
So best to go by distribution. In Maharashtra, only Reissantia indica (Willdenow) N. Hallé is reported as per above links.
So take it as Reissantia indica (Willdenow) N. Hallé.
Other observations at id of the tree may also be of Reissantia indica (Willdenow) N. Hallé


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id of the tree : Attachments (3).  9 posts by 7 authors.
id pl. of the small tree in the wild near Tamhini in Pune distt.


… other than leaves, are those the fruits of the plant ?


First thought …. Shorea species?


Reissantia indica (Hippocrateaceae / Celastraceae), a woody climber.


Isn’t it Reissantia arnottiana with the larger leaves and longer samaras. I feel we need flower to confirm. But I think, R.indica the leaves are smaller.


You may be right … But in R. grahamii (i am not aware of the sp R. arnottiana !), the leaves are broad with obtuse base and entire margin. Since the posted specimen has (comparatively) smaller leaves with cuneate base and serrulate margin, i think it is R. indica only.
Let’s hear from others too.

I am very sorry … H. arnotiana and H indica are mentioned close to each other with few distinguishing characters in Gamble.
One more reason why I think it is L. arnottiana is that L. indica is distributed in the drier, arid part ie. in the eastern side of the the Western Ghats and L. arnottiana is in the western part of the Western Ghats.
Ref. Flowering plants of Kerala (pp175) and Flora of presidency of Madrass (I-213)
Thank you … for pointing out the mistake.


Taking it as Reissantia indica as per discussions at Tamhini ghat near Pune, MH :: Tree for ID :: ARK2025-076


 


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References:

Catalogue of Life  GRIN  The Plant List Ver.1.1  Flora of China & Tropicos (Pristimera indica (Willd.) A.C. Sm. syn. Hippocratea indica Willd. & Reissantia indica (Willd.) N. Hallé)  Dinesh Valke’s Flickr Post  Flowers of India  India Biodiversity Portal  Reissantia indica Halle. – SpringerReference  JSTOR | Global Plants: Reissantia indica  Aluka – Entry for Hippocratea indica Willd. [family CELASTRACEAE]

Updated on September 9, 2025

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