Chionanthus mala-elengi (Dennst.) P. S. Green

Systematic classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Dicotyledons
Order      : Lamiales
Family     : Oleaceae
Genus      : Chionanthus
Species    : mala-elengi

Common Name:

Kaletala,Mala Elengi,Perumbal, Malabar Fringe Tree.

General Information:

Small trees up to 8 m tall. Bark grey, smooth shining, covered with raised corky lenticels; blaze dull orange. Young branchlets subterete, glabrous, whitish. Leaves simple, opposite, decussate; petiole 0.5-1.2 cm long, canaliculate, glabrous; lamina 5-14.5 x 2.5-5 cm, elliptic-obovate, apex abruptly acuminate or sometimes rounded, base cuneate, margin entire or slightly revolute, coriaceous, drying olive green, glabrous beneath; midrib canaliculate above; secondary nerves very slender, nearly parallel; tertiary and higher order nerves obscure. Inflorescence few flowered cymes or on axillary fascicles; slender peduncles; flowers sessile, yellowish white. Fruit and Seed,Drupe, ellipsoid, or ovoid, 1.5 cm long; seed one.