Common Name: Spiny Maclura. Tamil Name: Ekkimullu, Karatti
Spiny Maclura is native to India and Sri Lanka and is a large well armed straggler which can grow to over 15 meters. The plant is dioecious with milky sap. It is occasionally seen around dry forest ranges of Coimbatore and Salem districts in Tamilandu. The branches tend to arch over nearby vegetations, the leaves are simple and arranged in an alternate manner. The arching branches have several small sub-branches, on each of them 6-7 green shiny, leathery leaves are seen. The leaves are more or less ovate in shape with an acute base and an ovate apex.The leaf measure around 5.7 cm in length and across around 3 cm. The leaf stalk is grooved and bend and measurers around 1 cm. The inflorescence is in the form of an axially capitate clusters.
