Bark
Woody stems with greyish-brown to brown bark, relatively smooth when young and becoming rough with age; branches often stout.
Salacia oblonga
Syn. Comocladia serrata
IUCN Red List
Vulnerable
(VU)
Local name
- Oblong Leaf Salacia (English)
- Dhavashi (Marathi)
- Pitika (Sanskrit)
Climber type
Evergreen
Deciduous
Family: Celastraceae
Indicated uses
Medicinal
Edible
Ornamental
Avenue
Other
Flowering & fruiting
Flowering
Fruiting
Key characters
Leaves
Leaves are up to 21 x 8 cm, oblong, pointed or blunt at apex, narrow at base, green when dry, nerves 8-10 pairs, stalk 1 cm long. Stalks bearing inflorescence are short, stout, many-flowered.
Flower
Flowers are many, greenish yellow. Sepals are 1.5 mm across, circular, petals 2.5 mm long, ovate.
Fruit / Seeds
Berry is about 4 cm across, orange-red, smooth.
Did you know?
In traditional practices of South India, the dense wood of Salacia oblonga has reportedly been fashioned into drinking vessels. Water stored in these vessels overnight was traditionally consumed as part of herbal practices associated with blood-sugar management.
Distribution
S. India, Sri Lanka