62
Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.)
Pers.
Synonym: Munchausia
speciosa L.,
Adambea glabra Lam., Lagerstroemia
reginae Roxb.
LYTHRACEAE
Local Names
: പൂമരുത്, Pride of India, Queen of Flowers.
Flowering Period : March to November.
Distribution : Indo-Malesia
Uses: Ornamental, Avenue tree, Timber yielding.
Exotic : Yes
Deciduous
trees with bark yellowish-brown, smooth. Leaves simple, opposite, oblong,
ovate-lanceolate, margin entire. Flowers bisexual, mauve or pink, in terminal
panicles; inflorescence branches puberulous. Calyx tube hemispherical; lobes 6,
triangular. Petals 6, obovate, clawed, margins crispate. Stamens many, inserted
near the base of the calyx tube. Ovary half inferior, sessile, ovules many;
style curved; stigma capitate. Fruit is a capsule, ovoid, brown, woody,
dehiscent; seeds, winged, pale brown.
