Sarcandra chloranthoides

Sarcandra chloranthoides Gardn., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 4: 348 1845. (syn: Chloranthus ceylanicus Miq.; Chloranthus grandifolius Miq.; Sarcandra grandifolia (Miq.) Subramanyam & A. N. Henry; Sarcandra irvingbaileyi Swamy);

S-India, Sri Lanka as per Catalogue of life;

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Shrubs, branchlets glabrous, terete. Leaves opposite, 13-17 x 4-6.5 cm, elliptic, acute at both ends, serrate, glabrous, nerves 7 or 8 pairs. Flowers in terminal, trichotomous, to 10 cm long spike, unisexual, clustered; bracts yellow, petalloid, 6 mm long, perianth absent; stamen 1, filaments and connectives broad, thick; ovary 1-ovuled; stigma sessile, truncate. Berry 8 x 4 mm, ovoid, purplish-black, smooth.

(From India Biodiversity Portal on 27.12.13

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Collected from Vythiri, Wyanad District, Kerala Date of Collection: 29.04.2012

Shrubs, branchlets glabrous, terete. Leaves opposite, 13-17 x 4-6.5 cm, elliptic, acute at both ends, serrate, glabrous, nerves 7 or 8 pairs. Flowers in terminal, trichotomous, to 10 cm long spike, unisexual, clustered; bracts yellow, petalloid, 6 mm long, perianth absent; stamen 1, filaments and connectives broad, thick; ovary 1-ovuled; stigma sessile, truncate. Berry 8 x 4 mm, ovoid, purplish-black, smooth.

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I remember Sarcandra glabra is commonly used in Shillong during the new year celebration.

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References:

Catalogue of life  The Plant List Ver. 1.1  Tropicos  India Biodiversity Portal  Plant illustrations  GBIF  Flora of Peninsular India  Flickr