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

Flueggea leucopyrus

Syn. Securinega leucopyrus

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Bushweed (English)
  • Ainta (Hindi)
  • Bhuriphali (Sanskrit)

Shrub type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Phyllanthaceae
4m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Flueggea leucopyrus bark

Bark

Grayish-brown, cylindrical branches featuring rigid, heavily crowded twigs that terminate in sharp, woody, spine-like tips.

Flueggea leucopyrus leaves

Leaves

Small, bright green leaves (1.3–2.5 cm long) that are obovate or elliptic, arranged alternately, with a noticeably pale midrib.

Flueggea leucopyrus flower

Flower

Tiny, inconspicuous, greenish-yellow flowers clustered in leaf axils, lacking true petals and producing a mild, honey-like fragrance.

Flueggea leucopyrus fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Smooth, waxy, snow-white berries (~4–6 mm wide) that turn completely white when ripe, holding three to six tiny, smooth seeds.

Flueggea leucopyrus

Did you know?

It is known as Katupila in Sri Lankan traditional medicine and Ayurveda where its crushed leaves are traditionally applied to chronic wounds and skin ulcers for their potential wound-healing properties.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Ethiopia to Somalia, Socotra, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to China, Sri Lanka