Common Name: Gin Berry. Tamil Name: Amutham, Kattu-k-konci
This plant grows to a height of about one meter and is commonly seen in forest edges. The leaves are 3-7 foliate. Leaf arrangement is opposite (sub-opposite?), leaf margins shallowly crenulate, leaf base is attenuate and leaf apex is roundish. Flowers are seen in panicles on leaf axis and are white in color. The fruit is in the form of a pulpy berry with 1-2 seeds. The fruits are much sort after by birds. The fruit is edible and consumed by village folks. The flowers are visited by many insects for nectar. G. pentaphylla is an important larval host plant for butterflies and should be planted in all butterfly gardens in South India. The butterfly list includes Lime blue, Common Quaker, Lime Swallow Tail, Malabar Raven, Red Helen, Blue Mormon and Common Mormon. Gin Berry is an important plant with several medicinal uses, the stem of the plant is also used as tooth brush in rural areas.
