Herbarium JCB

Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard

Family : SAPOTACEAE
(SAPODILLA FAMILY)
Family (as per The Plant List) : Sapotaceae
Species : Manilkara hexandra
Species Name (as per The Plant List) : Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard
Common name : Obtuse-leaved mimusops, The Ceylon Ironwood
Vernacular name : Khirni (Hin.); Kirani mara, Kariyani mara, Bakula (Kan.); Kanupala, Karupala, Paalai, Ulakkaipaalai (Tam.); Puttapala, Pala nemmi, Manchipala, Palachettu, Kanupala, Nimmi pala (Tel.); Khiri, Khirokuli (Ori.); Khirni, Raajaadanah (San.)
Collection Nos : HJCB-0229; HJCB-0411
Collector(s) Name : Arun Singh R., K.R.K.Swamy & K.Sankara Rao; K.Sankara Rao, Arun Singh R. & K.R.K.Swamy
Collection Date : 27/11/2014; 26/11/2015
Collection Locality : Sadasivakona Forest, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh State; Palamner R.F., Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh State
Habitat : Deciduous forest
Key identification features : A large tree. Bark blackish-grey, smooth when young with conical protuberances. Leaves are broadly ovate, obtuse to emarginate at apex, cuneate at base and glabrous. Flowers are pale-yellow, axillary, fascicled on slender curved peduncles. Sepals are ovate, pubescent outside. Corolla-tube is very short, main lobes are elliptic, lateral segments are linear-lanceolate. Staminodes are shorter than filaments of stamens, bifid. Berry is reddish-yellow, ellipsoid and smooth. Seed is solitary.
Habit : Tree
Flower, Fruit : September-July
Native : India, Sri Lanka
Comments : On plains in scrub jungles and deciduous forests up to 500 m and above. Prefers sandy loam or loamy soils and often shows a stunted shrubby growth under drought conditions. Seeds yeild oil.
Conservation Status : Not Evaluated (NE)
Distribution Locality : Throughout Eastern Ghats
World Distribution : India, Sri Lanka, Siam, Indo-China, Hainan, Malesia
Literature : Pullaiah et al., 2011 - Flora of Eastern Ghats Vol. 4; J.L.Ellis, 1990- Flora of Nallamalais Vol. 2; H.O. Saxena & M. Brahmam, 1995- Flora of Orissa Vol. 2 ; R. S. Rao et al., 1986 - Flora of West Godavari District ; R. S. Rao and S. H. Sreeramulu, 1986 - Flora of Srikakulam District; N.P.Singh, 1988. Flora of Eastern Karnataka; Matthew, K.M., The Flora of Tamil Nadu Carnatic, Vol.3 (1). Diocesan Press, Madras. 1983.; Neginhal, S.G., Forest Trees of the Western Ghats includes Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau. 2011.
Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Arun Singh R., Deepak Kumar, Raja K Swamy and Navendu Page (2016). Digital Flora of Eastern Ghats. http://easternghats.ces.iisc.ernet.in/plants.php?name=Manilkara hexandra. Downloaded on 31 October 2025.