Chionanthus mala-elengi - Malabar Fringe Tree

Malabar Fringe Tree

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Photo: Dinesh Valke

Common name: Malabar Fringe Tree • Kannada: ಹರಿಯಾಗೆ Hariyaage, ಮಹೋದಲೆ Mahodale, ಮಾಯಿಸಲೆ, ಮೈಸಾಲೆ Maisaale, ತಗಡತಿ Tagadati, ತಗಡಕ Tagadaka, ತಗಡರೆ Tagadare • Malayalam: മലഇലഞ്ഞി mala-elengi • Marathi: हेड्डी heddi • Tamil: சொர்கிலி sorkili

Botanical name: Chionanthus mala-elengi Family: Oleaceae (Jasmine family)
Synonyms: Chionanthus malabaricus, Forsythia mala-elengi, Linociera malabarica

Malabar Fringe Tree is a small evergreen tree, 3 to 5 m high, with corky bark. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 5 to 12 cm long, elliptic-oblong, with a pointed tip, wedge-shaped at the base. Leaf stalks are 1 cm long. Flowers are white and fragrant, with four narrow petals. The flowers occur on on axillary penducles bearing fascicles of 1-5 stalkless flowers at apex. Sepal tube is 4 toothed, stamens 2, anthers sessile; style short. This tree is distributed in south-west India. Flowering: September-December.

Identification credit: Prashant Awale

Photographed in Maharashtra.

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