Common name: Orange wild Rhea Tamil Name: Kettuochi
Orange wild rhea is a shrub that grows to around 3 meters in height. The Debregeasia genus is small genus with consisting of about 8 species, most of them are found in tropical areas of Asia. In D longifolia the simple leafs are arranged in an alternate spiral manner, the leaf margin is serrated the leaf surface is bullate (blistered or puckered surface). The leaf has a leathery rather smooth feel, upper surface has a light green color and the lower surface has a silvery shine. The leafs are lance shaped. The inflorescence is in the form of an axillary short branched cyme. The flowers are rather inconspicuous, the perianth has 4 petals and 4 stamens. The fruit is in the form of a achenes-bright orange in color (when ripe). This shrub is used for initiating reforestation measures. It is an important plant attracting many insects; and the fruits are edible for birds and other small animals. Orange wild rhea plays an important role in protecting biodiversity in middle and upper regions of Wester Ghats. It has its presence in both forest areas, urban waste lands and road-sides. In small pockets they sustain local endemic populations.
