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Meyna laxiflora

Robyns

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Rock Outcrops Network VBR test, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Rock Outcrops Network VBR test

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Shiwalee Samant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Shiwalee Samant, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Meyna laxiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae. It has a world-wide distribution across tropical and subtropical regions.

Description

A small evergreen tree. It grows up to 10 m high. The trunk is almost smooth. The bark is dark brown with straight spines. The leaves are opposite and oval. They are 5-13 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. There are shiny with 6-9 pairs of side veins. The small leafy structures at the base of the leaf are triangular. The flowers are greenish-white. They are hairy inside. They occur in a flat topped cluster. The fruit are yellow and round. They are 4-5 cm across. They are edible.

Edible Uses

The young leaves and fruit are used as a vegetable. The fruit are sweet and edible.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are sweet. The young leaves and fruit are used as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. They occur in plains and low hills in deciduous forests in India.

Where It Grows

Asia, India,

Other Information

Famine food

Nutrition

PartMoisturekJkcalProteinVit AVit CIronZinc
Fruit35.65.2

Synonyms

Vangueria spinosa Roxb.

Also Known As

Alu, Atu, Boibindi, Burgeli, Cegagadda, Gobergally, Gundkare, Halawni, Helu, Huloo, Katai, Ketkora, Mainakanta, Mainphal, Manakkarai, Moltakanta, Mon, Monphal, Muduna, Mullakare, Muyna, Pundrika, Veliki, Visikilamu

References (12)

  • Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 369
  • Bole, P.V., & Yaghani, Y., 1985, Field Guide to the Common Trees of India. OUP p 5
  • Dey, A. & Mukhererjee, A., 2015, Living and Survival Amidst Hunger: Wild Edible Botanicals as a Prime Forest Productivity in the Rural Purulia District, West Bengal, India from Colonial to Present. Research Journal of Forestry 9(3): 71-86
  • Dobriyal, M. J. R. & Dobriyal, R., 2014, Non Wood Forest Produce an Option for Ethnic Food and Nutritional Security in India. Int. J. of Usuf. Mngt. 15(1):17-37
  • Jadhav, R., et al, 2015, Forest Foods of Northern Western Ghats: Mode of Consumption, Nutrition and Availability. Asian Agri-History Vol. 19, No. 4: 293-317
Show all 12 references
  • Khaple, A. K., Gurav, M. & Hubballi, S., Population Studies of Wild Edible Fruit Tree Species in Kodagu. International Journal of Life Sciences Vol. 1 No. 3
  • Kumar, R. & Saikia, P., 2020, Wild edible plants of Jharkhand and their utilitarian perspectives. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol 19 (2), April 2020, pp 237-250
  • Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 217
  • Shah, G.L., 1984, Some economically important plant of Salsette Island near Bombay. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 5 No. 4 pp 753-765
  • Sharma, B.D., & Lakshminarasimhan, P., 1986, Ethnobotanical Studies on the Tribals of Nasik District (Maharashtra). J. Econ. Tax. Bot. Vol. 8 No. 2 pp 439-446
  • Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 39, 67
  • Valvi, S. R. & Rathod, 2011, Mineral composition of some wild edible fruits from Kolhapur District. International Journal or Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Tehcnology. 2(1): 392

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