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45. Gnetum ula

Botanical Name: Gnetum ula Brongn., nom. superfl. Synonym of Gnetum edule (Willd.) Blume [Gnetaceae]
Common Name:  उंबळी, ओंबळी , Joint Fir

Distribution:
Flowering Class: Gymnosperm
Habit: Large Climber/Woody lianas
Habitat: Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, also in found in dense forested areas and sacred groves
Flowering and Fruiting: Flowering: March-April, Fruiting: May onwards. 


Description in Marathi:
कर्नाळा पक्षी अभयारण्यात एक बोर्ड लावलेला आहे, 'भारतात सापडण्याऱ्या नेटूमच्या सहा प्रजातींपैकी एक म्हणून 'ओंबळी' ओळखली जाते. पश्चिम घाटांतील सदाहरित वनांमध्ये ओंबळी चांगल्या प्रमाणात आढळून येतात. ओंबळीमध्ये टॅनिन मोठ्या प्रमाणावर असते, त्यामुळे या झाडाची पाने जुनी झाल्यावर काळसर दिसू लागतात. ओंबळीची पाने जाड व खवलेदार असतात. जाडसर वेलीप्रमाणे दिसणारे हे झाड कर्नाळा, राधानगरी, भीमाशंकर याठिकाणी मोठ्या प्रमाणावर आढळून येते.'  हा बोर्ड जिथे लावला आहे, त्याच्या बाजूलाच हे वेलीसारखे झाड उभे होते. या वेगळ्याच अशा झाडाबद्दल फार उत्सुकता वाटली. खरंतर ही वेलच आहे. सदाहरित आहे.  ही वेल खूपच मोठी होते आणि ती उंच झाडांचे आधार घेत खूप उंचावर चढत जाते. मार्च आणि एप्रिल त्याच्या फुलण्याचा काळ असतो. फुलं uni-sexual असतात. आणि एखाद्या कोन सारखी असतात.

The Plant

The Stem





Leaves

Leaves are arranged opposite.

The leaves in the above photo are yellowish green. But the older leaves are dark green in colour, and they grow darker in colour and they age.


This plant is present at Tungareshwar WLS, Matheran and Phansad WLS. It is mostly present in large forests in Western Ghats.

Flower

Fruit
Fruits are initial whittish- green which turn black on maturity. Large number of fruits fall on the forest floor, the seeds are also present in large numbers on the forest floor from which the location of plant can be discovered.








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