Gluta travancorica

Gluta travancorica (Malayalam: ശെന്തുരുണി; Chenkurinji; Shenduruni; Thodappa) is a species of plant in the family Anacardiaceae. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats in India.[2]

Gluta travancorica
Leaves
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Genus: Gluta
Species:
G. travancorica
Binomial name
Gluta travancorica

This species is commonly found in the wet evergreen forests of Southern Kerala, especially Kollam and Trivandrum Districts.[2] The Shendurni wildlife sanctuary in Kollam district is named after this tree.

Description

Evergreen trees growing up to 35 m tall. The trees have a 6-8 mm thick bark that is greyish-brown and smooth, with a pink blaze from which acrid, black sap exudes. The leaves are simple and alternate characteristically clustered at the tips of branchlets giving the appearance of a whorl. The leaves, with 1-2 cm long stout, winged petiole, have a blade that is 8-18 cm long by 3.5 to 7 cm wide. The leaf shape is elliptic ovate to obovate or spathulate, with cuneate or attenuate base and blunt or emarginate apex. The margin is entire and the leaves are thick and glabrous (non-hairy). The leaves have 13-18 pairs of prominent lateral nerves and distinct secondaries.[2] The cream-coloured flowers are bisexual, about 8 mm in diameter, and arranged in axillary and terminal panicles, with a spathaceous and deciduous calyx. The flowers have 4-6 petals with 4-6 stamens, threadlike style, and a single-celled superior ovary with one ovule. The fruit is a round drupe, about 2.5-3.5 cm, brown in colour and scurfy.[2]

  • Trunk and bark
    Trunk and bark
  • Branchlets showing leaves clustered at ends
    Branchlets showing leaves clustered at ends
  • Young leaves maturing
    Young leaves maturing
  • Mature leaves
    Mature leaves
  • Fruits
    Fruits
  • Sketch including flowers
    Sketch including flowers

References
  1. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Gluta travancorica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T38744A10147323. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T38744A10147323.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Sasidharan, N. (2006). ILLUSTRATED MANUAL ON TREE FLORA OF KERALA SUPPLEMENTED WITH COMPUTER-AIDED IDENTIFICATION. KFRI Research Report No. 282. Peechi: Kerala Forest Research Institute. p. 164.

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