Common Name: White catamaran tree. Tamil Name: Puttali, Ventali
White catamaran tree is a native species and often seen growing in scrub and dry forest areas in Peninsular India. The tree grows to a height of about 7-8 meters. This tree often grows on rocky slopes-in these habitats they are seen with stunted growth and have a crooked bowl. The central trunk of the tree is dark brown in color, smooth with peelings. The leaves are arranged in an alternate manner, the leaf stalk, and the lower surface of the leaf are whitish in color with a silvery hue and are stellate-tomentose. The leaf stalk measure around 6.5 cm; the leaf measurer around 12-18 cm in length. The leaves are ovate in shape and have an acuminate tip and a cordate base. On lower surface of the leaf the veins are prominently exposed; the leaf margin is shallowly dentate. The male and female flowers are separately seen. The inflorescence is in the form of a cyme and flower is cream in color. The fruit is in the form of a hard drupe measuring about 2-2.5 cm. The soft wood of the tree is used for making catamaran and toys. The seeds have a low rate of germination. This tree is heavily exploited in the wild.
