VOLKAMERIA

Volkameria L., Sp. Pl. 637. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5. 284. 1754.

10 species

Volkameria inermis

Volkameria inermis L., Sp. Pl. 637. 1753; Clerodendrum inerme L., Gaertn., Fruct. 1: 271. 1788; Clarke in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 589. 1885; Cooke, Fl. Bomb. Pres. 511. 1908 (Reprint 1958); Bor & Raizada, Some Beaut. Ind. Climbers & Shrubs. Bomb., Natl. Hist. 146: Fig. 72. 1954; Bailey, Stand. Cyclop. Hort. 1: 801. 1947; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed. 1: 402. 1918 (Reprint 1973); Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 33; keralaplants.in

An erect to scandent or trailing, evergreen shrub, up to 3 m tall, branches more or less 4- angled, commonly used for hedges round the gardens etc. Leaves opposite, 2.5-6 cm x 1.7-3.2 cm, elliptic-ovate, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, shining above, glandular abaxially; base narrow or obtuse, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate, emarginate, subcoriaceous; petiole 5-10 mm long. Flowers bisexual, slightly zygomorphic, hypogynous, large, 1.5-2.0 cm across, white, in axillary, trichotomous cymes or umbels, terminating the branches; peduncle ca. 2-2.5 cm long, pubescent; pedicels short, ca. 10 mm long, pubescent; bracts 1.5-2 mm, subulate, pubescent; bracteoles minute, ca. 1 mm long, narrow linear, pubescent. Calyx 5-7 mm long, cupulate, subtruncate, minutely 5-toothed, persistent, slightly broader than base of corolla tube. Corolla slightly zygomorphic, salverform, white; tube 1.8-2.5 cm long, cylindrical, glabrous without, hairy within; lobes 5, subequal, 6-7 mm x 3-4 mm, ovate or elliptic, obscurely crenulate, obtuse. Stamens 4, epipetalous, alternating with corolla lobes, curved above and much exserted; filaments unequal, 1.4-2 cm long, purple red; anthers ca. 2 mm long, ovate-oblong, dorsifixed, yellow. Carpels 2, syncarpous; ovary ca. 2 mm x 2 mm, incompletely 4-locular, 1 ovule per loculus; style ca. 3.3 cm long, purple red in upper region; stigma bifid.

Drupe grey-yellow, pear-shaped, obovoid or subglobose, 6-11 mm in diameter, enclosed by persistent calyx (Fruits usually do not mature).

Flowering and Fruiting: Almost throughout the year
Common Names: Glory Bower, Indian Privet, Seaside Clerodendrum, Wild Jasmine, Sorcerers Bush, Chhoti-ari, Vilayti Mehndi, Sankuppi, Sangan Kuppi (Hindi)