Moullava spicata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Moullava
Species:
M. spicata
Binomial name
Moullava spicata
Synonyms

Wagatea spicata Dalzell

Moullava spicata is an endemic species of creeper found in the Western Ghats of India.

Description

As follows:[2][3][4]

  • It is a robust woody climber, having recurved prickles on its branches.
  • Leaves - compound, bipinnate, 23–30 cm long with 4 to 6 pairs of pinnae, each 7.5 to 12 cm long, and having 5 to 7 pairs of oblong, coriaceous and dark-green leaflets on each pinna. The main rachis is armed with prickles.
  • Flowers - sessile in dense spicate racemes reaching 60 cm long; the rachis is grooved with soft hairs, armed with prickles.
  • Corolla - has 5 petals, inserted on top of the calyx-tube, obovate-spathulate, dark orange. 1 cm long, doesn't open fully.
  • Calyx : scarlet,
  • Androecium : has 10 stamens.
  • Fruit - a linear oblong pod, swollen above the seeds and constricted between them.
  • Seeds - 3 to 4, oblong, hard, bony.

Natural history

Moullava spicata is a creeper endemic to the moist deciduous and semievergreen forests of the Western Ghats.[3][5] The creeper flowers and fruits from October to May.[5] The flowers are frequented by birds and insects.

Uses

The seed of M. spicata yields an oil used for burning in lamps.[3]

Local names

Local names in the different ranges of the Western Ghats are:[2]

  • English: Candy Corn plant
  • Marathi: Wagati वागाटी, Wakeri वाकेरी
  • Tamil: Okkadikkodi, Pulinakkagondai
  • Kannada: ಗಜ್ಜಿಗಾಬಲ್ಲೀ Gajjigaballi

References

  1. ↑ "Moullava spicata". International Legume Database & Information Service – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  2. 1 2 "CandyCorn Plant". Flowers of India. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 P. Setu Madhava Rao, ed. (January 1961). Maharashtra State Gazetteer, Botany, Part III - Miscellaneous Plants. General Series Volume A (2 ed.). Mumbai: Maharastra State. p. 168.
  4. ↑ Shrikant Ingalhallikar (November 2001). Flowers of Sahyadri. Pune: S. Ingalhallikar. p. 79.
  5. 1 2 Sardesai, Milind; Govekar, Ravikiran; Yadav, SR (2013). Field Guide to the Plants of Sahyadri and Konkan. Pune: Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra. p. 153.

Data related to Moullava spicata at Wikispecies

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.