Common Name: Orange climber. Tamil Name: Kindu mullu
Orange climber is native to Indian sub-continent and is the only member of the monotypic genus ‘Toddalia’. The plant is well armed with recurved prickles and climbs over nearby vegetations-it can reach a height of about 10 meters. This straggler is commonly seen up to mid-altitudes in Western Ghat forest areas. The leaves are tri-foliate; individual leaflets are sessile. The leaf stalk measure around 1.7 cm and a hook like recurved prickle is seen on it. The centra leaf is the largest measuring around 3.8 cm; the side leaves measure around 3.1 cm. Below the surface of the each leaflet there is a small prickle on the mid-vein. The leaves are aromatic and have a fruity lemon flavor. The leaves are elliptic oval in shape, with a cuneate base and a cute apex. The inflorescence is axially panicle of cymes and measure around 5-6 cm in length. The flower stalk measure around 4-5 mm; the flowers have five distinct white petals. There is a dome like structure on the central of the flower. Five stamens can be located with a brown anther tip. The flowers measure around 4-5 across. The fruit is in the form of a berry; 5-7 mm in diameter when ripe turn orange in color. Orange climber is the larval host plant for Banded awl, Red helen, Yellow Helen, Paris peacock, Common Mormon, Spangle and Small salmon arab butterflies. The plant flowers through out the year and the nectar rich flower attract a lot of insects.
