Family: Combretaceae

Common Name: अर्जुन

Etymology - Genus: From the Latin terminus (end), referring to the leaves at the end of the shoots

Etymology - Species: Arjen the character in Mahabharat

Ecosystem: Dry deciduous, Riverine vegetation

Origin: Native

Location: India

Description: Naturally observed in riparian habitat (on the banks of the river). Very tall tree with characteristic creamy white flaky bark and drooping branches. Bark resembles that of a Guava tree.Simple leaf, arranged sub-opposite and superposed.Base of the leaf has characteristic single gland on underside.Almost sessile flowers are tightly arranged on a peduncle in circular layers.Flowers are small creamy, yellow with pleasant smell.Flowers don’t have petals. 10 Stamens are arranged in two rows.Fruits has 5 distinct wings, brown woody once dried. Lines of the wing are curved towards the end. Takes almost whole year for the seed to mature.Each fruit has a single seed. Seed is never separated from fruit. Shape of cotyledon is different from actual leaves.

Root type: Taproot-Woody hard

Stem Appearance: Tree

Stem Cross Section: Circular

Stem Texture: Smooth

Root-Stem-Bark Description: Naturally observed in riparian habitat (on the banks of the river). Very tall tree with characteristic creamy white flaky bark and drooping branches. Bark resembles that of a Guava tree.

Leaf - Characters

Attachment: Petiolate

Stipules: Exstipulate

Leaf Type: Simple

Phyllotaxy: Alternate-Spiral

Leaf Description: Simple leaf, arranged sub-opposite and superposed.

Leaflet - Characters

Lamina: Oblong

Lamina Bases: Rounded

Lamina Margins: Wavy/Undulate

Lamina Apices: Acute

Lamina Texture: Glabrous

Venation: Reticulate-Unicostate

Leaflet Description: Base of the leaf has characteristic single gland on underside.

Fruit type: Drupe

Fruit type Description: Fruits has 5 distinct wings, brown woody once dried. Lines of the wing are curved towards the end. Takes almost whole year for the seed to mature.

Seed Type: Dicotyledon

Germination type: Epigeal

Dispersion Method: Wind or flowing water

Preprocessing for germination: Soak the fruit is cow dung or water and cover in gunny bag for couple of days

Germination time: 10-12 days

Seed shelf life: 1 Year

Germination %: Very easy to germinate

Seed Description: Each fruit has a single seed. Seed is never separated from fruit. Shape of cotyledon is different from actual leaves.