Mombatti Mara / Chines Tallow Tree
Sapium sebiferum
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir & more
- Flowering
- November-January
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Sapium sebiferum
- Genus
- Sapium
- Family
- Euphorbiaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Native to
- China
- Found in India
- Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra
- Flowering & fruiting
- November-January
Leaf characters
- Leaf arrangement
- AlternaterecordedOne leaf per node, arranged in a spiral or zigzag up the stem.“The simple, deciduous leaves of this tree are alternate, broad rhombic to ovate in shape and have smooth edges, heart shaped and sometimes with an extended tail often resembling th” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf type
- SimplerecordedA single, undivided leaf blade.“The simple, deciduous leaves of this tree are alternate, broad rhombic to ovate in shape and have smooth edges, heart shaped and sometimes with an extended tail often resembling th” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf shape
- OvaterecordedEgg-shaped, broader near the base.“The simple, deciduous leaves of this tree are alternate, broad rhombic to ovate in shape and have smooth edges, heart shaped and sometimes with an extended tail often resembling th” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Leaf margin
- Toothed (serrate/dentate edge)recorded
- Leaf surface
- GlabrousrecordedSmooth, hairless.“The simple, deciduous leaves of this tree are alternate, broad rhombic to ovate in shape and have smooth edges, heart shaped and sometimes with an extended tail often resembling th” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
Characters marked “recorded” are for Mombatti Mara itself; the rest are typical of the Euphorbiaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- GreenrecordedGreen or greenish
- Flower arrangement
- SpikerecordedFlowers arranged directly on a central stem without individual stalks.“The flowers occur in terminal spike-like inflorescences up to 20 cm long.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fruit type
- CapsulerecordedA dry fruit from a fused ovary that splits open at maturity to release seeds.“Fruits are three-lobed, three-valved capsules.” — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Actinomorphic (radially symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Cyme
- Fruit
- Capsule
Characters marked “recorded” are for Mombatti Mara itself; the rest are typical of the Euphorbiaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Kannada
- ಮೋಂಬತ್ತಿಮರ Mombatti mara
About Mombatti Mara
Chines Tallow Tree (Sapium sebiferum) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and 1 other states. Flowering and fruiting run from November to January.
Uses
In practice it is grown for parts that are eaten, long used in traditional medicine and planted as an ornamental. Those medicinal uses are traditional attributions, not medical advice. Parts of this plant are reported as poisonous — treat it as unsafe to eat and wash your hands after handling.
Euphorbiaceae
Spurge/Euphorbia family
Mombatti Mara belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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