Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Graham) Mabb. (ICACINACEAE)
Common names
Kannada: Durvasane mara, Hedara, Kodsa.
Tamil: Arali.
Telugu: Arali, Chorla.
Description: The trees reach heights of up to 10 meters. The leaves are arranged alternately, ovate-oblong, or elliptic-oblong, with dimensions of up to 27 x 10 cm. They have an acute or rounded and uneven base, and the apex is acute or acuminate. The undersides of the leaves are pubescent, and the petioles can extend up to 6 cm in length. Flowers in terminal, corymbose cymes, yellowish white, foetid; puduncle pubescent. Calyx 5-toothed. Petals 5, pubescent within. Stamens 5, free; filaments flattened and dialated at base. Disk cup-shaped, surrounding the ovary. Ovary silky-tomentose. Drupes ellipsoid or slightly obovoid, ca1 0.6 cm, blackish purple when ripe. Seed solitary, black.
Flowering & Fruiting: October – March.
Distribution: India: Sikkim, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Uses: The plant is said to possess anti-cancer properties.