Plant of the Week – Madhuca insignis (Radlk.) H.J.Lam

Madhuca insignis (Radlk.) H.J. Lam (commonly known as Kavilippa) is a medium-sized tree that grows in moist deciduous to semi-evergreen forests belongs to family Sapotaceae and looks somewhat similar to M. nerifolia…….. This species is endemic to Southern Western Ghats. The plant is characterised by simple alternate leaves, elliptic – oblong with entire margins which are often clustered at branch tips. Flowers small, creamy white, bisexual in fascicles and fragrant. Fruit a fleshy berry. This plant was once declared extinct due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Thankfully, Madhuca insignis population has been rediscovered along the banks of the river Kumaradhara, in Dakshina Kannada region of Karnataka state, India. In a conservation perspective the plant is considered Critically Endangered (CR). Green Ahalia has introduced this species in the RET garden – Sanketham and efforts to multiply it through vegetative means are on.

For more details: greenahalia@ahhkv.org