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Deccan Fire Tree
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Deccan Fire Tree
ative Photo: Prashant Awale
Common name: Deccan Fire Tree • Kannada: Gandale, Bogimara, Hire mara, Gandele • Malayalam: Malamkalli • Marathi: Kadwa-sirid, Kurvi, Sirid • Tamil: Yellamalakkai, Ilaimergay, Yellamalla • Telugu: Dudippa
Botanical name: Hymenodictyon obovatum    Family: Rubiaceae (Coffee family)

Deccan Fire Tree is a large deciduous tree, 5-15 m tall, with thick horizontal branches. It owes its name to the bright red display of the new leaves. Oppositely arranged leaves are obovate, 10-15 cm long, abruptly long-pointed. Leaves are carried on 3-5 cm long stalk, and have 6-8 nerves. Unpleasant smelling flowers are borne in spikes, 15-20 cm long, arranged in panicles at the end of branches. Sepal cup is bell-shaped, velvety, and so is the flower. Stamens are 5, and the style is thread-like. Capsules are 1 cm long, ellipsoid, erect. Seeds are winged. Deccan Fire Tree is found in West and South India.

Identification credit: Prashant Awale, Jayesh Patil Photographed at Matheran, Maharashtra.

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