''Moullava spicata'' is an

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

species of creeper found in the Western Ghats of India.

Description

As follows: * It is a robust woody climber, having recurved prickles on its branches. * Leaves - compound, bipinnate, 23–30 cm long with 4 to 6 pairs of pinnae, each 7.5 to 12 cm long, and having 5 to 7 pairs of oblong, coriaceous and dark-green leaflets on each pinna. The main rachis is armed with prickles. * Flowers - sessile in dense spicate racemes reaching 60 cm long; the rachis is grooved with soft hairs, armed with prickles. * Corolla - has 5 petals, inserted on top of the calyx-tube, obovate-spathulate, dark orange. 1 cm long, doesn't open fully. * Calyx : scarlet, * Androecium : has 10 stamens. * Fruit - a linear oblong pod, swollen above the seeds and constricted between them. * Seeds - 3 to 4, oblong, hard, bony. File:Moullava spicata at FTBG 03.jpg, Habit File:False_Thorn_(6499453337).jpg, Bipinnate leaves File:Moullava_spicata_(2042406759).jpg, Inflorescence File:Hoogliganje_(in_Kannada)_(5505608017).jpg, Fruit File:Moullava spicata seeds.jpg, Seeds File:Moullava spicata at FTBG 01.jpg, Recurved prickles

Natural history

''Moullava spicata'' is a creeper endemic to the moist deciduous and semievergreen forests of the Western Ghats. The creeper flowers and fruits from October to May. The flowers are frequented by birds and insects.

Uses

The seed of ''M. spicata'' yields an oil used for burning in lamps.

Local names

Local names in the different ranges of the Western Ghats are: * English: Candy Corn plant * Marathi: Wagati वागाटी, Wakeri वाकेरी * Tamil: Okkadikkodi, Pulinakkagondai * Kannada: ಗಜ್ಜಿಗಾಬಲ್ಲೀ Gajjigaballi

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13111136 Caesalpinieae Plants described in 1851 Taxa named by Nicol Alexander Dalzell