WERALU (Elaeocarpus serratus)

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Elaeocarpus serratus is a tropical flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae. It is a medium to large tree, with white flowers. It has a disjunctive distribution, with the species occurring in Sri Lanka and southern India, and in Assam, Bangladesh and other parts in the north of the Indian subcontinent. The fruit is commonly eaten, and people also use the plant for ornamental, religious and folk-medicinal purposes. There are historical records of traditional-medicine use of the plant. Paradoxurus jerdoni (Brown palm civet) consumes parts of the tree.

The taxa is a medium to large evergreen tree with a large spreading crown, reaching 15 to 60m in height. The flowers have pale-green petiole, 5 white to pale-olive-green calyxes calyx, sepal 4-6mm long, 5 white corollas, petals 4-5mm long, slightly-black anther, 18-30 stamen. The flowers expand to maximum size in late afternoon and hence are likely adapted to night pollinators, i.e. moths. Bears smooth ovoid green fruits the size of about 2.5 cm long. Recommended varieties are local cultivars (round and oval fruits). It has a brown seed inside the fruit. The seed has a hard outer shell. The seeds are slow for germination and can take up to 2 years. The wood is whitish yellow.

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