A beautiful shrub to find. The insects love it too.So far this attractive shrub has not been named. It is only know from three locations associated with granite outcrops and is quite rare. During the past 22 years as volunteers for the West Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions we look out for this one in our search for rare flora associated with granite outcrops. Fred
Family: MyrtaceaeDistribution: Common in scrubs along the coast. Limited to Peninsular India.Description: Evergreen shrubs, 2-4 mts tall. Leaves opposite,sub coriaceous, 3.5-7x2-3.5 cm ovate, or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, base cuneate. Flowers solitary or fascicled, pretty white 1.2-2cm across. peduncles rusty villous, 0.5-1cm long; Calyx lobes 4, glabrous, nearly globose, Petals 4, Stamens numerous, Ovary 2 celled. Fruit a globose berry.Wood hard, Root paste mixed with goat milk is used to treat tonsils and gum swellings. Photographed at Pulicat lake near Sriharikota of Nellore district.Reference: Flora of Presidency of Madras by J.S.Gamble. Flora of Nellore district by B.Suryanarayana and A.S.Rao, ENVIS.