Streblus taxoides

Streblus taxoides (Roth) Kurz, Forest Fl. Burma 2: 465 1877. (Syn: Phyllochlamys taxoides (Roth) Koord.; Trophis taxoides Roth);

Spinous shrub or small tree 2-3 m tall. Branchets curved, quite glabrous, with dark-yellow marginal hairs on one side, spines strong, 1-1.5 cm long. Leaves elliptic-oblong or lanceolate obtuse or obtusely acuminate, 5-10 × 2-4 cm, base acuminate to obtuse, margin entire apex acuminate, lateral veins 6-11 on each side of midvein, petiole 0.2 cm long, stipules acute, lanceolate. Male inflorescence axillary, sessile, capitate to shortly racemose, involucral bracts whorled, 0.25-0.35 cm long. Male flowers shortly pedicellate, calyx lobes 4, filaments exserted, anthers globose, Female flowers pedicellate, bracts 2, calyx lobes 4, lanceolate, conspicuously veined, enlarged and leafy in fruit, ovary at first straight then oblique. Fruit drupes globose, 4-6 mm in diameter.

Flowering/fruiting: April-June.

These shrubs are dioecious i.e., (plants have male (staminate) flowers on one plant, and female (pistillate) flowers on another plant).

Seeds dispersed by gravity, wind, water and animals.

Susceptible to insect pests and bug infections.

Deciduous and scrub forests.

Global Distribution: Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.

Local Distribution: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

(From India Biodiversity Portal

Attributions- Ganeshaiah, K. N., UAS, Bangalore, India. & Kailash, B. R., UAS & ATREE, Bangalore, India