Systematic Classification:
Division : Angiospermae
Class : Dicotyledons
Family : Arecaceae
Genus : Bentinckia
Species : condapannaCommon Name:
Chuvanna cheeralam, Chuvanna akil
General Information:
Trees grow up to 25 m high, bark 4-5 mm thick, smooth, brown; blaze reddish-brown; young shoots golden brown, densely peltate scaly. Leaves imparipinnate, alternately, estipulate; rachis 25-35 cm long, stout, covered with peltate scales, swollen at base, grooved above; leaflets 7-11, alternate, estipellate; petiolule 7-20 mm long, slender, grooved above, covered with peltate scales, lamina 6-21 x 2.5-8 cm, oblong, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, base obliquely round or acute, apex acuminate, margin entire, upper surface minutely pitted with peltate scales, lower surface with numerous peltate scales on the midrib and lateral nerves, coriaceous; lateral nerves 10-19 pairs, parallel, prominent, intercostae reticulate, obscure. Flowers polygamo dioecious, yellow; male flowers: inflorescence to 20 cm long, densely covered with peltate scales; flowers 2.5-3 mm long; pedicels 1-1.5 mm long; calyx 0.5 mm long, lobes 5, round, densely scaly; petals 5, yellow; stamens 5; staminal tube 2 mm long, aperture 0.4-0.5 mm wide, entire, anthers 5, included; female flowers: inflorescence to 5.5 cm long, covered with reddish-brown peltate scales; pedicels 3-4.5 mm long; flowers 4.5 mm long; calyx 3.5 mm long, thick and fleshy at base; lobes 5, rounded, densely scaly; corolla 2 mm long, petals 5; staminodes 5, included; ovary superior, depressed globose, with reddish-brown scales, 3-celled, ovules one in each cell; stigma subglobose with an apical depression. Fruit a capsule, 3.5-4.5 x 2.7-4 cm, obovoid or subglobose with an apical depression, pericarp with numerous irregular longitudinal ridges and dense peltate scales, 0.5 cm thick and granular; seeds 1-3, 1.7-2.5 x 1-1.5 cm, completely surround by a thin pale pink translucent aril.E