Gordonia obtusa Wallich ex Wight & Arn. (THEACEAE)
Description: Evergreen trees, up to 30 m tall. Leaves elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, up to 15.5 x 5 cm, acute at base, obtuse or obtusely acuminate at apex, crenate. Flowers solitary or 2-3 fascicled at the ends of branches, ca 3 cm in diam., white. Sepals 5, unequal, orbicular, pubescent outside. Petals 5, obovate, notched at tip or erose, pubescent outside. Stamens numerous, connate at base. Ovary 3-locular, white-pubescent; stigmas 3. The capsules are oblong with a short acumen, measuring 2-3 x 1.5 cm, and have a 5-angled structure that dehisces into 5 valves. The seeds are compressed, ellipsoid, ranging from 3-7 x 2 mm, and feature wings.
Flowering & Fruiting: October – May.
Distribution: India: In evergreen forests of Western Ghats between 500 – 2000 m.Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Endemic.
