Chhal Mogra is a beautiful, crooked, evergreen tree,
native to the moist forests of NE India. It grows up to 30 m tall, and has
an untidy branching habit. Alternately arranged leaves are oblong-
elliptic, rarely ovate-oblong or obovate-oblong, 13-20 cm long, 5-10 cm
wide, leathery. Pale yellow flowers are sweet scented, and arise directly
from the bark, hence the name chhaal mogra (chhaal means
bark and mogra is a generic name for jasmine). Flowers have five
rounded petals, and a mass of long stamens at the center. The fruits are
round, ash-colored, and when mature, and also
arise straight from the corky stems. A crude oil is extracted from the
fruit which is used in cooking and lighting purposes. The fruit itself is
poisonous.
Identification credit: Tabish
Photographed in Delhi University, Delhi.
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The flower labeled Chhal Mogra is ...