Helicteres isora

Helicteres isora is a small-sized, thornless, multi-stemmed and deciduous tree.

The bark of Helicteres isora is greyish-coloured, rough and warty.

The leaves of Helicteres isora grow alternately on the stem.
The leaf is simple, bright green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is chartaceous and pubescent on both sides.
The leaves have a 0.8-1 cm long petiole with a pair of ensiform stipules at the axil of the stalk.
The leaf of Helicteres isora is 8-12 cm long and 6-8 cm wide. The shape of the blade is obovate, the apex is acuminate, the base is cordate and the margins are serrate.
The venation of the leaf is digitate.

The flowers of Helicteres isora are grouped in axillary and few-flowered cymes. The peduncle is 7 mm long.
The calyx-tube is campanulate, irregularly lobed and 1.5 cm long and 5-8 mm across. The calyx is light yellow-coloured and finely pubescent.
The corolla is composed of 5 red-coloured, glabrous, irregular and clawed petals.
The gynandrophore is 3.5-4 cm long. The androecium is composed of 10 stamens at the end of the gynandrophore.
The style is filiform, curved and about 4 mm long with a simple stigma.
The ovary is ovoid and 5-celled with numerous ovules in each cell.
The buds are covered with short and white hairs.
The flowers are fragrant.

The fruit of Helicteres isora is a spirally twisted follicle. It is 4-6 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide and beaked with a 4 cm peduncle.

The seeds of Helicteres isora are 2-3 mm long and 1.5-2 mm wide and dark brown-coloured. There are numerous seeds in each follicle.

The leaves and tender parts of Helicteres isora are useful as fodder.

Source : Dastur, 2006, Useful Plants of India and Pakistan

The fibre extracted from the inner bark of Helicteres isora is used for making container bags, rough sacking, sewing gunny bags and cattle harness. It is used to make cordage.

Helicteres isora is used for the manufacture of paper.

Source : Dastur, 2006, Useful Plants of India and Pakistan