Group:
1 Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) - I - Dicotyledons
Family:
Elaeocarpaceae
Genus:
Elaeocarpus
Common sinhala name:
Veralu
Habit:
Tree
Origin:
Native
National conservation status:
LC-Least Concern
Legal status:
Not protected
Similar species:
All vernacular names:
Wild olive, Ceylon olive (E), Ulang-kevei (T)
Contributors for Images:
FlowerSL (ID-PMR), Bhikkhu Nyanatusita (ID- JdV & BN) Aruna Yasapathila (ID-AY), Jecob de Vlas (ID-JdV) - IDA 100%
A rather small tree with light yellowish white wood, up to about 10—12 m high, and bole 30 cm in diameter, young parts pubescent. Petioles 1—1.5 cm. Blades 5—10 cm long, obovate-oval, acute at base, obtuse, rounded at apex; margin shallowly crenate-serrate with dents in the incisions; pale olive green or drying pale brown at lower face; lateral veins about 4—5, with glandular thickenings in axils, connected by marginal network of veins. Flowers in numerous (4)7—8 cm long racemes from axils of past and present leaves, and rather shorter than them, pedicels as long as sepals; sepals 4—6 mm, lanceolate, acute, fine-pilose or glabrous; petals white, about 5—6 mm, with a broad cuneate base, cut more than halfway down into numerous filiform lacinae; stamens 25—35, filaments short, anthers linear, black, one valve tipped with a brush of hair half as long; disk hairy, orange; ovary hairy, 3 celled. Drupe about 3 cm long, ovoid, bluntly pointed, smooth dull greenish yellow, pulp copious, acid, edible; stone ovoid-oblong, thick-bony, strongly tubercled, 1-celled, 1-seeded. (FOC)