Common Name: Fish berry. Tamil Name: Kattukkodi
Fish berry is a woody climber native native to Australia also seen in India and Sri Lanka. It is referred to as fish berry as natives have long used this plant to stun fish. The plant can spread over 5-6 meters, young branches are yellowish-green in color and the branches tend to droop down. The plant is Monoecious (male and female flowers septately on the same plant). The leaves are simple and arranged in an alternate manner, the leaf margin is entire the leaf is prominently tri-nerved below. The leaves are shinning green in color. The leaves are ovate in shape with a rounded base and have a spiny tip. The leaf stalk and leaf measure around 1.8 cm and 5 cm respectively. The inflorescence is in the form of a yellow axillary raceme. The fruit is in the form of green drupe. It turns yellow in color and later on maturity turns coral red in color. Occasionally seen on deciduous forest ranges in Coimbatore.
