Callicarpa rubella Lindl.

Callicarpa species are undershrubs, shrubs or trees. Stems acutely or obtusely 4 angular. Leaves decussate-opposite, simple, ternate, exstipulate, subsessile or petiolate. Inflorescence axillary, cymose, solitary, pedunculate or sessile. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, fragrant, calyx, 4 or rarely 5 toothed, pubescent, corolla infundibular or hypocrateriform, 4 or rarely 5 lobed, stamens 4, exserted, anthers oblong 2 loculed, dorsifixed, pistil 2-carpellary, ovary superior, 4 lobed, 4 loculed, 1 ovule in each locule, style short, stigma 2 lobed. Fruit drupe.

Flowering: Summer, Fruiting: Cold season

Callicarpa species flowers are bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects. Flowering/Fruiting: June-January.

Seeds dispersed by anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds and animals.

Shrub about 4-8 ft tall. Stem whitish. Branches and branchlets obtusely 4 angular, grandular, stellate-pubescent, usually furrowed, nodes annulate. Leaves opposite, simple, lanceolate-oblong, 4-22 x 1.5-6 cm across, base broadly obtuse or subcordate, margin ciliate, serrate, entire at the apex and base, apex acuminate, coriaceous, chartaceous, sparsely pubescent above and paler stellate-pubescent beneath, lateral veins 6-10 on either side of the midrib, ascending, arcuate at margins, impressed above and prominent beneath, petiole about 0.5 cm long, exstipulate. Inflorescence cymes, trichotomously branched, 2-5 cm across, peduncle about 1-2 cm long, slender, pubescent, bracts subulate. Flowers bisexual, numerous, pedicel obsolete, Calyx cupular, aobut 1 mm long, 4-toothed, stellate-tomentose, corolla infundibular, 4 lobed, pink, pinkish red, lobes ovate to obtuse, corolla tube about 1.5 mm long, narrow, pubescent with minute glands, stamens 4, exserted, glabrous, inserted from base or the corolla tube, filaments slender 3-4 mm long, anthers yellow, oblong, ovary superior, subglobose, globose, 4 lobed, 4 loculed, 1 ovule in each locule, style slender 3-4.5 mm long, stigma capitate. Fruit drupe, globose, 1.5-2 mm in diameter, reddish purple, glabrous, seeds 4.

It is an erect shrub, stem whitish. Leaves smaller than the above species, oblong-lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, crenate-serrate, hairy above, tomentose beneath. flowers red, drupe purple

Susceptible to insect pests and moulds.

In moist shady areas of pine forests at an altitude of about 2000-5000 ft.

Bark and roots are chewed like betel-nuts.

Bark and roots are chewed like betel-nuts