Talipariti macrophyllum (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Fryxell

Paritium species are herbs, undershrubs or shrubs. Stems woody, branches densely or sparsely pubescent or tomentose with simple, scarbid or stellate hairs or glabrous. Leaves simple, alternate, midrib usually with obscure nectarines, 3 or more basal veins, margins crenate-dentate or entire, apex acute to acuminate, petiolate, stipules linear, subulate, ovate or foliaceous, early deciduous. Inflorescence usually axillary or terminal, solitary or racemes or lax panicles, by the reduction of the upper leaves. Flowers bisexual, pedicel slender, epicalyx 3 or more, base connate, rarely absent, calyx 5 lobed, distinctly nerved, campanulate, base connate, valvate, sometimes with nectarines, persistent, corolla showy and large, yellow, white, orange, purple, red, blue and dark colored at the base, campanulate or cylindric. Staminal column usually shorter or almost as long petals, base wide, filaments apex truncate or 5-dentate, anthers basifixed, throughout or in the upper half. Ovary superior, 5 locular, rarely up to 10 locular, axile placentation, ovules 3 or more per locule, style 1 or 5 branched distally, stigma discoid, capitate or not distinct. Fruit capsule, globose-cylindrical, apex apiculate, acute or acuminate, dehiscing loculicidally, glabrous or hairy. Seed many, reniform or subglobose, smooth, glabrous or hairy.

Paritium species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: January—April/April—May.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Trees, about 6-20 m tall, trunk woody, about 1-1.5 m in diameter. Branches spreading, densely stiff yellowish brown pubescent when young, becoming glabrescent ultimately. Leaves simple not lobed, alternate, cordate to orbicular, about 15-32 x 14-36 cm across, base cordate, midrib usually with obscure nectarines, 7-9 veined impressed above and prominent beneath, margins entire or minutely crenulate, apex abruptly acuminate, stellate velutinous above and beneath, petiole pubescent, about 10-22 cm long, stipules oblong, foliaceous, deciduous, about 5-10 x 2-4 mm across. Inflorescence usually axillary solitary or terminal racemes, by the reduction of the upper leaves. Flowers bisexual, pedicel slender, with stiff glandular hairs, about 2-7 cm long, epicalyx 10-12, linear lanceolate, base connate, apex forked with one leaf lobe, about 2-3 x 0.2-0.3 cm long, calyx 5 lobed, distinctly nerved, campanulate, lobes broadly lanceolate, base connate, apex acute to acuminate, valvate, sometimes with nectarines, persistent, about 2.5-3 cm long, corolla showy and large, yellow, and purplish red at the base, campanulate, petals about 5-7 x 3-5 cm across. Staminal column about 4 cm long, base wide, anthers basifixed, throughout. Ovary superior, conical, 5 locular, axile placentation, style about 5 mm long. Fruit capsule, globose-cylindrical, about 2.5-3 cm across, apex acute, dehiscing loculicidally, densely hirsute. Seeds reniform or subglobose, about 4 mm across, covered with fulvous hairs along the edge, brownish.

Paritium species are susceptible to various insect pests, virus and fungi, affecting leaves, fruits and roots.

Northeastern India and Eastern Himalayas, altitude up to 900 m.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Wood is used for posts, rafters etc, bark yields fiber, which is used in making ropes and paper.