Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Aphanamixis polystachya

Syn. Aglaia polystachya

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Pithraj Tree (English)
  • Harin-hara (Hindi)
  • Lakshmivana (Sanskrit)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Meliaceae
30m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Aphanamixis polystachya bark

Bark

Grey to dark brown, fairly smooth in young trees, becoming rough and fissured with age.

Aphanamixis polystachya leaves

Leaves

Pinnate, 30–60 cm long, with 9–21 leathery, oval to oblong leaflets, 17–26 × 4–10 cm, uneven bases, entire margins and translucent spots.

Aphanamixis polystachya flower

Flower

Axillary clusters under 30 cm long; flowers 6–7 mm wide, with three bracts, five rounded sepals, five incurved petals and a smooth staminal tube bearing 5–6 elongated anthers.

Aphanamixis polystachya fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Capsules are obovoid (pear-shaped) with seeds wrapped in an orange-red aril, 2-2.5 × 2.5-3 cm, orangish when mature. Seeds are greyish brown.

Aphanamixis polystachya

Did you know?

Its reddish-brown, flaky bark reveals a pinkish inner layer that releases thick, white latex when cut or peeled, which is not typical of its family.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

East Himalaya, Peninsular India, China, South East Asia, Cuba, Mauritius.