Scutia myrtina

SKOO-tee-ah — Latin: scutum (shield)
mer-TIE-nah — myrtle-like

Shrubs evergreen, scandent, straggling, or erect, to 5 m tall, spinescent; branches opposite to subopposite; young branches puberulent; older branches brown or red-brown, striate, glabrous. Spines mostly 2 per node, axillary, 2-7 mm, recurved. Leaves opposite or subopposite; elliptic, 3.5-6 × 1.8-3 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, lateral veins 5-8 pairs, conspicuously raised abaxially, impressed adaxially, base broadly cuneate, margin inconspicuously remotely minutely serrulate, apex shortly acuminate or acute; stipules lanceolate, 2-3 mm, early deciduous; petiole 3-5 mm, glabrous or puberulent; leaf blade abaxially pale green, adaxially shiny, deep green, brown when dry. Flowers yellow-green, few in axillary fascicles or shortly pedunculate in axillary condensed cymes, glabrous. Pedicels 1-2 mm. Sepals (4 or) 5, narrowly triangular, ca. 2 mm, midvein distinctly keeled, apex acute and thickened. Petals (4 or)5, deeply emarginate to deeply bilobed, unguiculate, ca. 1 mm, both sides slightly inflexed, base shortly clawed. Stamens (4 or) 5, surrounded by and equaling petals. Disk glabrous, rather thin and inconspicuous. Ovary globose, base filling calyx tube, but not immersed in disk, 2- loculed; style short, ca. 1 mm, stout; stigma undivided or inconspicuously 2- or 3-lobed. Drupe obovoid-globose, 4-5 mm in diameter, often with rudimentary style at apex, base with persistent calyx tube, with 2 one-seeded stones; fruiting pedicel 3-4 mm, glabrous; seeds brown, flat, obcordate, not furrowed.

Commonly known as ‘Sudali’ [சுடலி] in Tamil. Ripe fruits edible.

Goa photo for identification – 6:
For identification please

Please provide the details required by .., for correct id.
Until then, I just guess this as Scutia myrtina.

I agree with … Scutia myrtina

KAS Week-(Scutia myrtina -01/10/2012-NJ):
Scutia myrtina (Chimat in Marathi)

Scutia myrtina
A Rhamnaceae member. Also observed on Amboli plateaus in similar habitats.

Shiny Obovate Lvs, Hooked spines — Pls id GE-12-Jan-2013-B:
Found this medium shrub growing wild in Chenai outskirts.
Not much info, but thanks for any pointers to the id.

I think this is Scutia myrtina

Thanks for the ref. to this plant erlier not known to me. Looks very likely. I shall look out for flrs/frt

Scutia myrtina of Rhamnaceae

Looks like Scutia myrtina

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Good description and nice pictures! Yes, it is Scutia myrtina.

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Thank you all. i got some seeds of this – hopefully i will be able to get some to germinate.

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ANOCT64 Scutia myrtina : 2 posts by 2 authors. Attachments (5).

Bangalore outskirts
20th October 2014

Very beautiful plant and nicely captured … thanks..

Scutia myrtina

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Super shots …!!!

Rubiaceae member? Randia? 

Seems to be Scutia myrtina from the family Rhamnaceae

Scutia myrtina of Rhamnaceae

A shrub for ID
From Amboli May 2010

could this be Scutia myrtina?

I also think this is Scutia myrtina (N. L. Burman) Kurz from Rhamnaceae,

Yes, It is Scutia myrtina (Rhamnaceae). A common, straggling spiny shrub in the deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.
The ripened fruits are edible.

Thanks for the all the responses.
I think we can safely assume Scutia myrtina as the most likely ID.

In our recent trip to Abu Hills, we were surprised to observe that many plant species which are supposed to fruit in end of May, are devoid of fruits. Species such as Carissa (Karonda), Malotus (Rohini), Syzygium (Jamun – two species) are still flowering. No fruiting till date. As per our observations, in June we use to collect fruits in this month. Our team members make regular monthly trips of the different areas in Southern belt of Rajasthan.
Surprisingly, early flowering of orchids (Aerides sp.) were also noticed as per discussions made with Dr Satish Kumar Sharma.
Experts may throw light on the probable reasons.
Let me share that the water availability (both surface and underground) on Abu Hills is decreasing. Nakki Lake has limited water supply.
Shockingly, after ESZ notification of Abu Hills, the grey cover (cement-concrete construction) increased on the name of beautification for the tourism purpose. The constructions on large scale especially in the catchment areas as well as open areas of water flow, are taking place with permission of Municipal Board….

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