Common Name: Hairy mistletoe This is a hemirparasitic (they have chlorophyll and undertake photosynthesis but also depend on host plant for water and nutrients) perennial shrub mostly seen around tropical forest areas at altitudes of more than in 500 msl. It is an shrub with attaches to the host plant via haustoria- to extract water … Read More “Taxillus tomentosus- Loranthaceae (Mistletoe family)” »
Category: Larval host plant
Common name: Mountain pomegranate, Spiny Randia Tamil name: Madkarai Mountain pomegranate is a common shrub/tree seen in all moist deciduous forest ranges at lower and mid-altitude in Western Ghats. It grows to around 4-5 meters in height, it is well armed tree with long straight spines that almost look like extension of branches. The leafs … Read More “Catunaregam spinosa- Rubiaceae (Coffee family)” »
Common Name: Bullet wood, Bakul. Tamil name: Magzhampoo Bakul is native to South East Asia and is an evergreen tree that grows to a height of about 10 meters. It forms a round shady crown. The tree is a popular ornamental shade tree and a culturally important in India. Often planted in temples across India. … Read More “Mimopsis elingii- Sapotaceae (Sapota tree family)” »
Common Name: Indian whitehead. Tamil name: Vallari Indian whitehead is probably native to India, it has a large geographical spread and seen around deciduous forest areas, dry grasslands and also near sea coast. Enicostemma is a genus under Gentianaceae family, characteristic by winged or angular stem; generally they are perennials or annuals and have white … Read More “Enicostemma axillare- Gentianaceae (Gentian family)” »
Common Name: Bel Tamil name: Vilva maram Aegle is a small genus under family Rutaceae and consists of only 3 species. Bel tree is a well armed (thorns 1.5 cm) and grows to around 7-8 meters in height. It is a native tree extensively planted for its medicinal and religious purposes. The bark of the … Read More “Aegle marmelos- Rutaceae (lemon family)” »
