Salicaceae

Native: Sri Lanka and southern India

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Salicaceae

Common Names

English – Ceylon Gooseberry

Malayalam –  

Description: A small sized evergreen tree grows up to 6m in height. Leaves are simple and alternately arranged that are ovate to elliptical shaped, measuring up to 10 cm long. The tree is dioecious, which means male and female flowers are brone on separate trees. Flowers are small, greenish white, born at the leaf axis. Fruit a berry, lack, purple or red in color.

Distribution:  Cultivated in most tropical countries for its fruit.

Uses: The fruit are often eaten fresh or made into jam.