Gymnosporia montana

• Botanical Name : Gymnosporia montana (Roth) Benth.
• Synonyms : Celastrus montanus Roth
• Common Name : Vikalo, Vikaro, Vico, Red Spike Thorn
• Plant Family : Celastraceae
• Plant Form : Shrub
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 9, 13, 15
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Gymnosporia montana Plant :

• Habit : A thorny, bushy, shrub, with grey or greyish-brown, rough bark.
• Leaves : Elliptic-obovate, obovate-oblong or spathulate-oblong.
• Flowers : Creamy white, much branched cymes.
• Fruit :
  • Capsule globose, glabrous, reddish-purple.
  • Seeds glabrous, chestnut-brown, enclosed in brown aril.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : November-February
• Significance :
  • It is used as a blood purifier and against inflammations, piles and ulcers.
  • Chewing leaves also reduce thirst.