48
Citharexylum
spinosum L.
Synonym : Citharexylum cinereum L.
Family
: Verbenaceae
Local Names
: Parijatham, Fiddlewood
tree, Spiny fiddlewood
Flowering
and fruiting period:
April – September
Distribution: Native of West
Indies; introduced and naturalised in many other countries
Habitat: Grown as garden/avenue
tree
IUCN
status:
Data Deficient
Endemic: No
Uses: Ornamental, Timber
yielding, Fiddlewood used to make sounding boards for musical instruments and
cabinets
Key
Characters:
Citharexylum spinosum are shrubs or trees. Leaves decussate-opposite,
alternate. Inflorescence axillary and terminal, recemiform, erect or drooping;
flowers numerous, small, regular or somewhat zygomorphic. Calyx cupular or
tubular, 5-lobed. Corolla white, infundibular, usually 5-lobed. Stamens 4,
didynamous; the lower 2 forming staminodes. Ovary perfectly or imperfectly
4-loculed; ovule 1 in each locule; style terminal; stigma shortly 2-lobed.
Fruit a drupe.
