Common name: Hathikana, Leea • Hindi: हाथीकाना Hathikana • Marathi: गजकर्णी Gajakarni, Dinda • Bengali: ঢোলসমুদ্র Dholsamudra • Sanskrit: समुद्रिका Samudrika, Jino
Botanical name: Leea macrophylla Family: Leeaceae (Leea family)
Synonyms: Leea integrifolia, Leea latifolia
Hathikana, literally meaning, having elephant ears, is an erect shrub, or
perennial herbs, 90 cm or more in height, with switchy branches and perennial
tuberous roots. Leaves simple, ovate-cordate, conspicuously large - lower
leaves up to 60 cm in diameter. The large leaves lend it many of its common
names. Tiny greenish white flowers in corymbose cymes. Berries are
depressed-globose, black. Leaves are eaten as famine food.
Flowering: July-September.
| Photographed in Maharashtra. |
Identification credit: Dinesh Valke
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