Common name: Warty marble tree. Tamil name: Malampinnai, Rudraksham Warty marble tree belongs to the Indo-Malayan region it grows to over 40 meters in height. However, most of the trees i have seen in Nilgiris look much smaller. The is rather uncommon in Wester ghats area. I have seen a few of these trees inside … Read More “Elaeocarpus tuberculatus- Elaeocarpaceae (Rudraksh family)” »
Common name; Spreading diamond flower Tamil name: Parpatakam Spreading diamond flower is a small herb which grows to around 8-10 cm in height and often found on fallow lands and roadsides. The plant has round shaped stem and is very slender. The simple leaves are arranged in an opposite manner. They are sessile and measure … Read More “Scleromitrion diffusum-Rubiaceae (Coffee family)” »
Butterfly pea tree Tamil name: Mara shankapushpam This is an exotic tree of tropical South American origin and grows to around 4 to 5 meters in height. It forms a round canopy above and branches tend to droop down almost to ground level. The plant is mostly glabrous with pinnate leafs. The leaflets are large … Read More “Clitora arborea-Fabaceae (pea family)” »
Common name: Shield leaf ariopsis. Local name: Kalthamara A peltata is a small herb endemic to the western ghat regions of India. It is found on mountainous rocky cliff surfaces in Tropical habitat areas of the Western Ghats. The leafs are arranged in an alternate manner and have a heart shaped base and are orbicular … Read More “Ariopsis peltata – Araceae (Arum family)” »
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)” »
