Gluta travancorica
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Gluta travancorica.jpg
|image_caption = Leaves
|status = LR/nt
|status_system = IUCN2.3
|genus = Gluta
|species = travancorica
|authority = Bedd.
}}
Gluta travancorica (Malayalam: ശെന്തുരുണി; Chenkurinji; Shenduruni; Thodappa) is a species of plant in the family Anacardiaceae. It is endemic to the southern Western Ghats in India.{{Cite book |last=Sasidharan |first=N. |title=ILLUSTRATED MANUAL ON TREE FLORA OF KERALA SUPPLEMENTED WITH COMPUTER-AIDED IDENTIFICATION |publisher=Kerala Forest Research Institute |year=2006 |series=KFRI Research Report No. 282 |location=Peechi |pages=164}}
This species is commonly found in the wet evergreen forests of Southern Kerala, especially Kollam and Trivandrum Districts. The Shendurni wildlife sanctuary in Kollam district is named after this tree.
Description
Evergreen trees growing up to 35 m tall. The trees have a 6-8 mm thick bark that is greyish-brown and smooth, with a pink blaze from which acrid, black sap exudes. The leaves are simple and alternate characteristically clustered at the tips of branchlets giving the appearance of a whorl. The leaves, with 1-2 cm long stout, winged petiole, have a blade that is 8-18 cm long by 3.5 to 7 cm wide. The leaf shape is elliptic ovate to obovate or spathulate, with cuneate or attenuate base and blunt or emarginate apex. The margin is entire and the leaves are thick and glabrous (non-hairy). The leaves have 13-18 pairs of prominent lateral nerves and distinct secondaries. The cream-coloured flowers are bisexual, about 8 mm in diameter, and arranged in axillary and terminal panicles, with a spathaceous and deciduous calyx. The flowers have 4-6 petals with 4-6 stamens, threadlike style, and a single-celled superior ovary with one ovule. The fruit is a round drupe, about 2.5-3.5 cm, brown in colour and scurfy.
Gallery
File:Gluta travancorica-4-chemungi hill-kerala-India.jpg|Trunk and bark
File:Gluta Travancorica 06.JPG|Branchlets showing leaves clustered at ends
File:Gluta Travancorica 05.JPG|Young leaves maturing
File:Gluta travancorica 1.jpg|Mature leaves
File:Gluta travancorica-1-bsi-yercaud-salem-India.jpg|Fruits
File:Gluta travancorica Govindoo.jpg|Sketch including flowers
References
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category-inline|Gluta travancorica}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5433274}}
Category:Environment of Kollam
Category:Near threatened plants
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{Anacardiaceae-stub}}