Typical of the Apocynaceae family
Cerbera manghas
Utalam / Grey Milkwood
Also known as Sea Mango, Katasaali (H), Chandemara (K)
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala
- Flowering
- March-August
Utalam in regional languages
Find the name you know, then compare it with the botanical profile. Columns list recorded aliases; they are not paired translations. A Latin spelling appears only when it is present in the source record.
| Language | Regional script | Recorded Latin spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Tamil | Not recorded | kodalma, kattarali, kottuma |
| Malayalam | Not recorded | utalam, chattankaya |
| Marathi | Not recorded | Sukanu |
See the original recorded names
- Tamil
- kodalma, kattarali, kottuma
- Malayalam
- utalam, chattankaya
- Marathi
- Sukanu
Ecology & growing context
- Native status · Kew WCVP
- WCVP native range includes India Kew dataset ↗
Kew WCVP dataset; accepted-name match. Dataset matching is separate from an individual regional review. Recorded worldwide native range: Tanzania (Pemba), W. Indian Ocean to Pacific.
- Explore nearby plants
- West Bengal →Karnataka →Kerala →
Occurrence records show where a plant has been recorded; they do not establish that it is native there. Compare local habitat and growing conditions when choosing plants for a garden.
How to identify Utalam
Identify Utalam by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a tree habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Mango-like poisonous fruit (sea mango).
- Confirm flower colour: White.
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: March-August.
- In India, compare location records such as West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala.
- Confirm it sits within the Apocynaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Utalam.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Cerbera manghas
- Genus
- Cerbera
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Native to
- Asia, Australia and Pacific
- Distribution
- Asia, Australia and Pacific
- Found in India
- West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala
- Flowering & fruiting
- March-August
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Leaf characters
Typical of the Apocynaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Whiterecorded
Typical of the family
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Follicle
Characters marked “recorded” are for Utalam itself; the rest are typical of the Apocynaceae family — flowering plants only.
About Utalam
Grey Milkwood (Cerbera manghas) belongs to the Apocynaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in West Bengal, Karnataka and Kerala. Flowering and fruiting run from March to August.
Uses
Parts of this plant are reported as poisonous — treat it as unsafe to eat and wash your hands after handling.
Apocynaceae
Dogbane family
Utalam belongs to the Apocynaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Apocynaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
All plant problem & care guides