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Cyphomandra betacea
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Family:
SOLANACEAE
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Citation: Cyphomandra betacea (Cav.) Sendt., Flora 28: 172. t. 4. 1845; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 942(661). 1923.
Solanum betaceum Cav., Anales Hist. Nat. 1: 44. 1799.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Seemakkathiri, Marathakkali
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Tree tomato, Tamarillo
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Description:
Shrub or small tree; branching dichotomous; branchlets puberulous. Leaves cordate-ovate, to 20 x 12 cm, acute, subcoriaceous, velvety-pubescent; petiole to 9 cm. Cymes axillary, to 8-flowered, scorpioid, to 12 cm, drooping; peduncles to 4 cm; pedicel 1.5 cm. Calyx-tube 6 mm; lobes 5, rounded. Corolla rotate, pinkish-white, 2 cm wide; lobes 5, lanceolate, 1.2 x 0.5 cm. Stamens 5; filaments 4 mm, pinkish; anther dehiscence porous; anther cells separated by the thickened connective appearing as a hump at the back of the anthers. Ovary conical, 2-celled; ovules numerous, on axile placentae; style thick, 7 mm. Berry ovoid, 6 x 4 cm, 2-celled; seeds numerous.
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Habit:
Shrub
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Flowering & Fruiting:
Throughout the year
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District(s):
Idukki
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Cultivated, running wild in low altitude shola regions and other exposed lands
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Distribution:
Native of Peru and Brazil
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Pink, White
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
Yes
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Vegetable:
Yes
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
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