Curved flower snake Chassalia
Chassalia curviflora var. ophioxyloides

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall. The leaves vary is size and shape. They can be 22 cm long by 8 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 3 cm long. The flowers are in groups at the ends of branches. The flowers are funnel shaped and have 5 lobes. The fruit are oval and black and fleshy. They are 6 mm across. There are 2 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 500-1,800 m above sea level. It also grows in the western Ghats.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Himalayas, India, Northeastern India, Sikkim

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Karutha-amalppori, Yamari, Vellakurinji

Synonyms

Chassalia ambigua (Wight & Arn.) Alston; Chassalia ophioxyloides (Wall.) Craib; Psychotria ambigua Wight & Arn.; Psychotria ophioxyloides Wall.;