Moullava spicata

Moullava spicata is an endemic species of creeper found in the Western Ghats of India.

Moullava spicata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Genus:	Moullava
Species:	M. spicata
Binomial name
Moullava spicata (Dalzell) Nicolson[1]
Synonyms
Wagatea spicata Dalzell

Description

As follows:^[2][3][4]

• It is a robust woody climber, having recurved prickles on its branches.
• Leaves - compound, bipinnate, 23–30 cm long with 4 to 6 pairs of pinnae, each 7.5 to 12 cm long, and having 5 to 7 pairs of oblong, coriaceous and dark-green leaflets on each pinna. The main rachis is armed with prickles.
• Flowers - sessile in dense spicate racemes reaching 60 cm long; the rachis is grooved with soft hairs, armed with prickles.
• Corolla - has 5 petals, inserted on top of the calyx-tube, obovate-spathulate, dark orange. 1 cm long, doesn't open fully.
• Calyx : scarlet,
• Androecium : has 10 stamens.
• Fruit - a linear oblong pod, swollen above the seeds and constricted between them.
• Seeds - 3 to 4, oblong, hard, bony.

• 
  Habit
• 
  Bipinnate leaves
• 
  Inflorescence
• 
  Fruit
• 
  Seeds
• 
  Recurved prickles

Natural history

Moullava spicata is a creeper endemic to the moist deciduous and semievergreen forests of the Western Ghats.^[3][5] The creeper flowers and fruits from October to May.^[5] The flowers are frequented by birds and insects.

Uses

The seed of M. spicata yields an oil used for burning in lamps.^[3]

Local names

Local names in the different ranges of the Western Ghats are:^[2]

• English: Candy Corn plant
• Marathi: Wagati वागाटी, Wakeri वाकेरी
• Tamil: Okkadikkodi, Pulinakkagondai
• Kannada: ಗಜ್ಜಿಗಾಬಲ್ಲೀ Gajjigaballi