Andamese bowstring plant
Anodendron paniculatum

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A woody creeper. It grows 20 m long. The bark is brown. The leaf stalks are 3 cm long. The leaves are narrowly oval and 14-28 cm long by 1-10 cm wide. They are wedge shaped or rounded at the base. The flower panicles are 15 cm long. The flowers are small and tube shaped and white or yellow. They are in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The fruit are large follicles in pairs. These can be 16 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are black when ripe. The seeds are small and flattened and 1-2 cm long by 6-8 mm wide. These have a silky tuft attached.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry deciduous forests. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In southern India it flowers and fruits February to October.

Its other names

Local names

Gambi, Kakkakodi, Liane parachute plant, Sarakkodi, Theikelki, Twin-net

Synonyms

Anodendron lanceolatum King & Gamble; Anodendron manubriatum Merr.; Anodendron moluccanum Miq.; Anodendron rhinosporum Thwaites; Anodendron sutepense Kerr; Anodendron tenuiflorum (Miq.) Miq.; Echites manubriatus Wall. [Invalid]; Echites paniculatus Roxb. [Illegitimate] Echites parviflorus Roxb.; Echites polyanthus Wall. [Invalid]; Echites trichotomus Desf.; Epigynum parviflorum (Roxb.) Hook. f.; Gymnema nepaulense J. Graham; Ichnocarpus paniculatus Moon [Invalid]; Strophanthus balansae Franch.; Tabemaemontana tenuiflora Miq.;