Drypetes venusta is an evergreen tree species endemic to the Western Ghats, India.[2] They are large trees with smooth, straight, and white trunk and horizontal branches. It can reach a height up to 35 m, and a girth up to 3 m.
| Drypetes venusta | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Putranjivaceae |
| Genus: | Drypetes |
| Species: | D. venusta
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| Binomial name | |
| Drypetes venusta (Wight) Pax & K.Hoffm.
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editThe leaves are simple with alternate phyllotaxy and elliptic or elliptic oblong shape. Leaf size is about 5-12 × 2-5 cm. Leaf base is oblique, and apex is acute or shortly acuminate. There will be 8-12 pairs secondary nerves. The petiole length is 0.4-1 cm. Flowers are dioecious, and greenish yellow in colour. The male flowers are seen in axillary clusters with pedicel length of 1-1.5 cm. The female flowers are axillary, seen either solitary or in pairs, with pedicel length up to 6 cm. Fruit are ellipsoid or obovoid, green in colour, and drooping.[3]
Distribution
editThis is a common tree in low and medium elevation evergreen forests of Western Ghats from Lonavala to Thiruvananthapuram. The altitudinal range is from 200 m to 1200 m.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Drypetes venusta". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
- ^ a b Page, Navendu (2017). Endemic Woody Plants of the Western Ghats. Bangalore: Trail Blazer Printers and Publishers. ISBN 978-93-5279-072-2.
- ^ "Drypetes elata". indiabiodiversity.org. Biodiversity India. Retrieved 23 October 2022.