Shirakiopsis indica (Willd.) Esser

Habit: Tree up to 30 m tall.

Roots:Buttresses

Trunk & bark:The trunk base with spines and buttresses, bark smooth.

Exudates : White latex.

Leaves:Leaves simple, alternate; petiole short with stipules; lamina glabrous, ellipticlanceolate, apex acuminate, base subacute, margin serrate, 7 14 x 3 4 cm, length/width ratio 2.33.5; lower surface with 24 (8) marginal glands. Secondary veins 1824 pairs, arching but not joined towards the margin.

Inflorescences or flowers:Inflorescence terminal spikelike thyrses, greenishyellow, unbranched, with male and female flowers. Flowers unisexual, monoecious, apetalous. Male flowers many, calyx 3lobed. Female flowers few, large; ovary glabrous, trifid style.

Fruits Fruit capsule, globose without lobes, woody, up to 3 cm in diameter, green and black when ripe.

Seeds /seedling:3 long seeds, pale brown.

Habitat and ecology: Common and scattered along rivers and seashores, in tidal and mangrove forests, in primary and secondary swamp forests, also found in inland evergreen forests.

A pioneer in marginal habitat between inner mangrove and coastal forest.

Common and scattered along rivers and seashores, in tidal and mangrove forests, in primary and secondary swamp forests, also found in inland evergreen forests.

A pioneer in marginal habitat between inner mangrove and coastal forest.

The timber is used for canoes. Leaves applied to cure fever and gonorrhea. Fruits and leaves to dye clothes. Fruit juice used in Papua New Guinea to cure toothache. Fruits wall contain toxic latex, known as fish poison.