Umbelled canthium
Psydrax umbellata

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. The bark is yellowish grey and has shallow cracks. The young branches are 4 sided. The leaves are simple and opposite. The leaves are oval and have a sharp tip. The leaf blade is 8-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. The flowers are white and have a scent. They are in a group with stalks from the same point. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit is oval. It is 1.2 cm long and black.

There are about 200 Canthium species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry to moist deciduous forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Malesia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In India it flowers September to December. (February to August)

Its other names

Local names

Alampamaram, Arsul, Irumbarappan, Kari, Karimchulungu, Nallamandharam, Njanjul

Synonyms

Canthium umbellatum Wight; and others