Semecarpus kathalekanensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Semecarpus kathalekanensis | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus: | Semecarpus |
| Species: | S. kathalekanensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Semecarpus kathalekanensis Dasappa & Swaminath, 2016 | |
Semecarpus kathalekanensis is a critically endangered species of plant endemic to the Western Ghats of the states of Goa and Karnataka in India. It is also called Kathalekan marsh nut.[2][1][3]
This species is named after Kathalekan, a small hamlet in Siddapur taluk of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka that has Myristica swamp where the tree was found and described.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
This species of tree were found from six localities inside the Myristica swamps of the Western ghats spreading across Karnataka and Goa.[1]
Description
The tree can grow up to 20 meters high.[4] The bark is greyish brown. Leaves have leathery texture with oblique at the base and they are alternate with dark green in color above and pale green below. The petioles are 5-10 cm long. The flowers are mostly dioecious and unisexual with female flowers larger than the male. It usually have 4-5 sepals and petals. Flowers are green and fruit is fleshy with greyish color that turns into brown when ripened with a single kidney shaped seed inside. The flowering season is from November to May.[2]
