Herbarium JCB

Sapindus laurifolia Vahl

Family : SAPINDACEAE
Family (As per The Plant List) : Sapindaceae
Species : Sapindus laurifolia
Species Name (as per The Plant List) : Sapindus laurifolia Vahl (Unresolved name)
Common name : Soapnut Tree
Vernacular name : Aristhaka (San.); Reeta, Reetae (Hin.); Naruvolu, Antuvaladakai (Kan.)
Collection Nos : CJS 10634, CJS 11366, KFP 11031
Key identification features : A moderate-sized tree. Leaves are densely arranged with lanceolate leaflets having pointed tip and glabrous surface. Leaf margins are pale white. Flowers are in clusters arranged in bunches at the end of branches. Petals 5 and pale white. Fruits are green-coloured, 2-3 spherical-lobed, joined together and covered with soft hairs. Seeds are black.
Habit : Tree
Native : South India
Comments : Fruit is used as a substitute for soap; clening of Jewellery and hair
Conservation Status : Not Evaluated (NE)
Distribution Locality : Bangalore, Chikamagalur, Davanagere, Hassan, Kolar, Mysore, Shimoga, Udupi
Floras referred : Saldanha & Nicolson, 1976 - Hassan; Saldanha, 1996; Gowda, 2004 - Sringeri; Ramaswamy & Razi, 1973 - Bangalore; Seetharam et al., 2000 - Gulbarga; Keshava Murthy & Yoganarasimhan, 1990 - Coorg; Gopalakrishna Bhat, 2003 - Udupi; Manjunath et al., 2003 - Davanagere