Biology:Pterolobium hexapetalum

From HandWiki
Short description: Species of legume

Pterolobium hexapetalum
Pterolobium hexapetalum (Roth) Sant& Wagh.jpg
In India
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Pterolobium
Species:
P. hexapetalum
Binomial name
Pterolobium hexapetalum
(Roth) Santapau & Wagh
Synonyms
  • Caesalpinia lacerans Roxb.
  • Caesalpinia ligulata DC.
  • Cantuffa hexapetala (Roth) Kuntze
  • Cantuffa lacerans (Roxb.) Taub.
  • P. indicum A.Rich.
  • P. lacerans auct. non R. Br.
  • Reichardia hexapetala Roth

Pterolobium hexapetalum, the Indian redwing, camp siege or bhoca,[1] is a flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is found from Burma, Bhutan and Bangladesh to southern India, where it occurs up to 1200 m altitude. They are large scrambling or climbing shrubs that grow commonly in dry deciduous forest, or as pioneer plants in open land.

They carry pairs of thorns below the rachis of their bipinnate leaves, and their sprawling twigs are armed with recurved thorns. In springtime their profuse and attractive inflorescences of pinkish white flowers form a mat on tree canopies. Starting March to April, they present a major source of nectar and pollen, and are foraged on by different species of honey bee. In late summer they bear colourful samaroid fruit, containing one seed each. The young shoots are useful as cattle fodder.

References

  1. From the Irula language in the Nilgiris

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q7256807 entry