Salacia oblonga

 

Family: Hippocrateaceae

 

Vernacular Name:

Tamil    - Ponkoranti, Kadal azhinjil

 

Threat Status:

Vulnerable (A1c) – Globally

 

Habit: Climbing shrub

 

Habitat: Moist deciduous to evergreen forests

 

Altitude: 700 – 1500 m

 

Distribution:

Global: Southern India and Sri Lanka. National: Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, rarely seen in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.

Regional: In Karnataka, occasional in Kodagu district. In Kerala, Fairly common in Thrissur, Idukki and Kollam districts. In Tamil Nadu, reported only from Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Nilgiri hills.

                                                                       

Description:

A large woody climbing shrub; branchlets cylindrical, densely sprinkled with lentcels, hairless. Leaves opposite, oblong or elliptic-oblanceolate, 7-15 x 3-5 cm, base acute, apex acute or acuminate, margin toothed with rounded to saw-like teeth, hairless; lateral nerves 7-9 pairs, prominent beneath; leaf stalks 5-10 mm long. Flowers bisexual, about 5mm across, greenish yellow, seen in shortly stalked axillary clusters, usually 3-6 together. Drupes sub-globose or pear-shaped, 5-6 cm across, orange-red when ripe. Seeds 1-6, angled, embedded in fleshy pulp.

 

Phenology: Flowering & fruiting: December to May

 

Medicinal Uses:

The stem bark is considered useful in treating polyuria, diabetes, and excessive thirst, discoloured spreading patches on the skin, diarrhea and fever. Root bark is used for treatment of gonorrhea, rheumatism and skin diseases.

 

Trade information: Local and regional

 

Mode of propagation: By seeds

 

Special characters: The attractive pear-shaped orange-red fleshy fruits are striking characters.