Group:
1 Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) - I - Dicotyledons
Family:
Dilleniaceae
Genus:
Dillenia
Common sinhala name:
Para
Habit:
Tree
Origin:
Exotic - Naturalized, IAS- Invasive Alien Species
National conservation status:
N/A
Legal status:
N/A
Similar species:
All vernacular names:
Para, Diya para, Godapara, Beru, Parasathu, Diyapara, Hunu para, Rata Hondapara, Rata Diyapara, Diya Beru, Diyathaliya, Su para (S), Simpoh, Shubby dillenia (E)
Large shrubs or small spreading trees up to 8 m tall; branches sympodial, ± glabrescent, younger ones glabrous to densely villose. Leaves deep green above, pale green below, elliptic to ovate, 10—45 x 5—26 cm, 7—27-nerved, rounded to obtuse at apex, obtuse at base, margin entire to dentate; petioles 2—6 cm long with persistent, 4-15 mm broad, amplexicaul wings merging into the leaf-blade. Inflorescences terminal, 4—18-flowered, up to 30cm long, simple or once (rarely twice) branched racemes; bracts triangular, 6—15 x 3—5 mm, caducous. Flowers 8—12 cm across; pedicels 8—30 mm long, slightly thickened at apex. Sepals 5, obovate, 1.5—2.2 x 0.8—1.2 cm, fleshy, glabrous to rather densely villose outside. Petals 5, obovate-spathulate, 4—5 x 2.5—3 cm, bright yellow. Androecium with c. 100 staminodes on outer side; staminodes linear, 4—6 mm long, yellow, obtuse at apex; stamens c. 175, outermost ones slightly curved, c. 8 mm long, innermost ones with apical part reflexed outward, 13 mm long, with stamens of intermediate length between. Carpels 5—8, elliptic, 5 x 2mm, glabrous, each with 7—10 ovules; styles spreading, filamentous, c. 10 mm long. Pseudocarps dehiscent, opening up by spreading of sepals and unfolding of carpels. Seeds obovoid, 3 x 2 mm, enclosed by scarlet, membranous aril. (FOC)