Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. ex Corrêa

 

Family: Malvaceae

Synonym: Bupariti populnea (L.) Rothm. 

Vernacular name: Pravaras, Cheelanthi, Pooparutthi, Poovarasu, Porasu

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Grown as fence-posts and avenue tree, also in mangrove forests

Distribution: Native of Old World, tropics; widely naturalized in Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean islands and Florida

Flowering and Fruiting: March-June

Key identification features: An evergreen and fairly large, quick-growing tree. Leaves are simple, alternate, long-petioled and heart-shaped. Flowers are single or in pairs in leaf axil, bell-shaped, pale yellow with purple base, slowly changing to purple on withering. Fruits are globose capsules, which turn brown on drying.

Uses: Cultivated as a shade tree around Habitations. Young leaves and flower buds are eaten fried. Wood used for agricultural implements.


 


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