77-POLYALTHIA LONGIFOLIA (Sonner.) Thw. Enum
Local name: Ashoka
Family: Annonaceae
Location: Horniman college, in front of Principal cabeen
Characters: Polyalthia species are trees or shrubs, erect or rarely scandent, dioecious. Leaves simple, alternate, glabrous or softly pubescent. Flowers bisexual, solitary or few, leaf opposed, axillary, supra-axillary, pubescent, pedicellate and bracteate. Sepals 3, usually valvate, Petals 6 in 2 series, valvate, free, subequal, variously shaped, flat, spreading, outer petals slightly smaller or larger than the inner petals. Stamens numerous, anthers cuneate, connectives rhomboidal or orbicular, apiculate on top. Carpels indefinite, oblong, angled or cylindrical, style long, short or almost absent, stigma dilated, sessile, ovules usually 1-2 sometimes up to 5. Ripe carpels or fruits apocarpous, monocarps many, globose or ellipsoid, fleshly, stalked or rarely subsessile, Seeds usually 1, sometimes up to 5, grooved.
General use: Cultivated in gardens and roadsides as avenue tree. Wood used for packing cases, boxes etc.