Common Name: Kukurbicha. Tamil Name: Kalummu, Tavadu. G. hirsuta is a shrub native to Indo-China region and grows to a height of about 2 meters. Often found around dry and deciduous forest ranges of the Western Ghat region. The simple leaves are arranged in an alternate manner; the leaf margin is toothed. The leaf is … Read More “Grewia hirsuta (Tiliaceae- Phalsa family)” »
Common Name: Elephant creeper. Tamil Name: Akaya-p-puritam Elephant creeper is native to India, it is large creeper/liana found near forest edges. This specimen was photographed from Borevelli hills in Mumbai. The branches are pubescent and have white hairs. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner; the leaf margin is entire. The lower surface … Read More “Argyreia nervosa (Convolvulaceae- Morning glory family)” »
Common name: Umbrella thorn. Tamil Name: Kudaivel Umbrella thorn is native to India, often seen on dry thorny forest zones of Western ghats. The tree grows to a height of about 6 meters. The branches spread out horizontally and evenly and the tree assumes a round umbrella shaped crown. The bark of the tree is … Read More “Acacia planifrons (Mimosaceae- Touch-me-not family)” »
Common Name: Shrubby Balsam Shrubby balsam is endemic to Souther Western Ghats. The plant belongs to the wet biome and is occasionally found on mountain road sides in hilly areas-generally above 1000 msl. It is a shrub and can grow to around 4-5 feet in height. The stem is rather succulent and glabrous and leaf … Read More “Impatiens fruticosa (Balsaminaceae- Balsam family)” »
Common Name: Indian Sarasparilla. Tamil Name: Nannari. Indian sarasparilla is native to South Asia and commonly found in most parts of India. The plant is commonly seen in deciduous forests areas of Western Ghats. It is a twinning plant that climes over other nearby vegetations or hedges. It grows to around 2 meters in length. … Read More “Hemidesmus indicus (Apocynaceae-Oleander family)” »
