Common name: Microcos, शिरल Shiral (Hindi), Shirali (Marathi), Visalam (Tamil), Kottakka (Malayalam), Biliyabhhrangu (Kannada), Asar (Bengali)
Botanical name: Grewia microcos Family: Tiliaceae (phalsa family)
Synonyms: Microcos paniculata
A large shrub or medium sized tree. Young shoots stellate hairy. Leaves
3-costate, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 8.5-13.5 cm long, 4-5.5 cm
broad, glabrous except for stellate hairs on veins and veinlets beneath,
entire or slightly serrate; petiole 0.8-1.2 cm long, hairy; stipules
linear-lanceolate, c. 8-10 mm long, acute-acuminate, stellate hairy. Cymes
shortly pedunculate, 2-3-flowered, arranged in a terminal or axillary, 8-15 cm
long, hairy panicle. Flowers yellowish-white, c. 8-10 mm across; pedicels
small, hairy; bracts subulate, c. 3-4 mm long, caducous. Sepals linear-oblong,
6-7 mm long, 2.5-3 mm broad, densely hairy outside, cucullate at the apex.
Petals oblong, about half as long as sepals, with hairy gland at the base,
emarginate or irregularly serrate at the apex. Stamens numerous, filaments 3-4
mm long, hairy towards the base. This species is native of Eastern Bengal and
the Khasia mountains.
| Photographed in Alibag, Maharashtra |
Identification credit: Navendu Pagé
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