| Type | Indigenous |
|---|---|
| Family | Malvaceae |
| Synonym | Hibiscus populnea L. |
| Local Name | Poovarasu |
| Local Name 2 | Cheelanthi |
| Habit | Medium sized tree |
| Tree Seed | Fruit type: Capsule. Seed weight: 2,600 to 5,000; 6190 seeds/kg (Abdul Kader and Chacko, 2000). Vernacular name: Poovarasu, Cheelanthi, (Chacko et al., 2002), Chandamaram (Malayalam), Puvarasam, poris, purasia, pursung (Gamble, 1922). Pursa (Tamil), Bhendi (Hindi), Bugari (Kannada) (Chacko et al., 2002). Flowering season: In almost all seasons, but abundantly during the hot months (Bose et al., 1998). Fruiting season: February to May (Abdul Kader and Chacko, 2000). Germination type: Epigeal (Abdul Kader and Chacko, 2000). Germination percentage: Up to 80 (Abdul Kader and Chacko, 2000). Method of propagation:
Vegetative propagation using branch cutting (Basak et al., 1995; Chacko et al., 2002). IBA at 2000 and 3000 ppm are effective in rooting of cuttings (Parthiban et al., 1999). Double nodal branch cuttings are treated with IBA 2000 ppm and maintained at r |
| Botanical Features | Trees, bark dark brown; blaze yellowish-pink; branchlets densely covered with minute scales, glabrescent. Leaves simple, alternate, stipulate; stipules 4-10 mm long, free, lateral, linear to lanceolate, cauducous; petiole 5-10 cm, slender, swollen tipped, scaly; lamina 5-12.7 x 5.5-15 cm, orbicular or ovate, base cordate or truncate, apex acute or acuminate, margin entire or dentate, coriaceous, with peltate scales above, glabrescent or stellate-tomentose beneath; 5-7 nerved from the base, palmate, prominent, lateral nerves 4-5 pairs, flowers bisexual, yellow, showy, solitary or in cymes, axillary or terminal; fruit a capsule, globose, indehiscent, seeds many, ovoid, pubescent. |
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