|
Ensete superbum
|
|
|
|
Family:
MUSACEAE
|
|
Citation: Ensete superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman., Kew Bull. 1947: 100. 1948; Mohanan, Fl. Quilon Dist. 409. 1984; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 382. 1985; Vajr., Fl. Palghat Dist. 503. 1990; Subram., Fl. Thenmala Div. 384. 1995; Sasidh. et al., Bot. Stud. Med. Pl. Kerala 14. 1996; Sasidh. & Sivar., Fl. Pl. Thrissur For. 465. 1996; Sasidh., Fl. Shenduruny WLS 339. 1997; Sivar. & Mathew, Fl. Nilambur 718. 1997; Sasidh., Fl. Periyar Tiger Reserve 451. 1998; Sasidh., Fl. Parambikulam WLS 348. 2002; Mohanan & Sivad., Fl. Agasthyamala 713. 2002; Anil Kumar et al., Fl. Pathanamthitta 501. 2005; Ratheesh Narayanan, Fl. Stud. Wayanad Dist. 868. 2009.
Musa superba Roxb., Pl. Corom. 3: 17. 1811; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6:261.1892; Gamble, Fl. Pres. Madras 1497(1046).1928.
|
|
Malayalam Name(s):
Kalluvazha, Malavazha
|
|
Tamil name(s):
|
|
English name(s):
|
|
Description:
Erect herbs with globose leafsheaths formed into a pseudostem of 50-100 cm diam. Leaves spirally arranged, to 3 x 0.8 m, oblong, entire with channelled midrib; lateral nerves many, parallel from midrib. Spadix 50-100 cm long, with 3-5 spathes at base; bracts several, to 20 x 14 cm, ovate, obtuse, brown. Flowers many on each bracts; unisexual, female flowers towards the base and male flowers above. Septemberals and 2 petals united into a sheath, 3.5 cm long, 5-lobed; third petals forms into a membranous sheath. Stamens 5, perfect, anthers 2.5 cm long, linear-oblong, filaments free. Ovary 3-celled, inferior; ovules several in each cell; style simple, stigma globose. Fruit oblong; seeds few, subglobose, black.
|
|
Habit:
Shrub
|
|
Flowering & Fruiting:
Throughout the year
|
|
District(s):
Palakkad, Kasaragode, Kollam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kozhikkode, Wayanad, Kannur
|
|
Medicinal:
Yes
|
|
Habitat:
Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests
|
|
Distribution:
Peninsular India
|
|
Aquatic:
No
|
|
Epiphyte(s):
No
|
|
Saprophyte:
No
|
|
Stem parasite:
No
|
|
Root parasite:
No
|
|
Flower colour(s):
|
|
Weed:
No
|
|
Monocot/Dicot:
Monocotyledonous Plants
|
|
Exotic:
No
|
|
Garden:
No
|
|
Edible:
No
|
|
Vegetable:
No
|
|
Endemic to:
Peninsular India
|
|
IUCN status:
|
|
Altitude:
700-900
|
|
Localities:
Poringal, Vallakkadavu, Karimala, Karimbam, Mukkali forests, Thalichola, Thenmalai, Peppara
|