Filicium decipiens (Wight & Arn.) Thwaites | |
Sapindaceae | |
Iruvillipalai | |
| Botanical Name | Filicium decipiens (Wight & Arn.) Thwaites |
| Synonyms | Filicium elongatum .Radlk. ex Taub.; Rhus decipiens. Wight & Arn. |
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Common Name | English : Fern Tree / Tamil : Iruvillipalai, Nirkongu |
| Distribution | Global : East Africa, Madagascar, India and Sri Lanka. Introduced in all tropical countries. Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | Large Evergreen tree up to 25m height, Bark brownish, irregular flaky, branchlets stout, angular, with persistent leaf scar. Leaves compound, spiral, rachis winged, leaflets sessile, opposite, linear or oblong, Tip retuse or acuminate, margin entire, coriaceous. Inflorescence axillary panicle. Flowers pentamerous, pinkish white, complete, bisexual, actinomorphic, hypogynous, calyx sepals 5, gamosepalous, imbricate, caducous, corolla 5, gamopetalous, orbicular, tomentose. Stamens 5, free, inserted within the disc, filaments subulate, anther ovate. Gynoecium, ovary globous, oval shaped, ovules solitary, style hooked, stigma simple bilobed. Fruit drupe, ovoid, shining, seed 1, oblong. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | September - November / December - January |
| Uses | Tree planted for ornamental for its eye-catching foliage. |
| Medicinal Uses | Traditionally used for diabetics, molluscicidal and anti-inflamattory |
| Tamil Name | Iruvillipalai |
