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Description

Evergreen tree to 18 m tall with short stocky trunk and long drooping branches. Leaves 7-14 cm long, oblong to narrowly elliptic with finely toothed or notched and wavy margin. Flowers unisexual in narrow unbranched spike-like clusters 3-10 cm long 1-2 female flowers at base and male flowers above. Fruits 1.8-3 cm diameter, dull green ripening blackish, spherical.

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Ecology

Common in moist open areas, mainly along rivers, near inland edge of mangroves.

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Distribution

India, Sri Lanka, SE Asia to Solomon Is.

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Uses

The latex from the plant is poisonous. Green fruits are used to poison fish. Seeds are edible but the fruit wall must be carefully removed.