Trees & Shrubs ‹‹ Go Back

This is a tree of medium height which grows to about 30 feet and is found in the low country dry zone. This species has a restricted global distribution and is only found in South India and Sri Lanka.

The conservation status of this species is considered as “Near Threatened” (National Red List 2020)

In Wilpattu these trees bear fruits during the months of June, July and August. These edible fruits are commonly referred to in Sinhala as “Pulima” which is a common Tamil name used for many sour fruits. They have a leathery skin and turn brownish yellow when ripe. The ripe fruits contain a few seeds which are coated with a sweet and sour pulp. These fruits give out a distinct smell and are sought after by elephants which often lead to the destruction of the tree. At Wilpattu few of these trees are toppled by elephants during the fruiting season. Many species of butterflies including Tamil Bush Brown and the Red spot Duke can often be seen under these trees feeding on the sap of the fallen fruits.