FOR VALIDATION :: ¿ Litsea wightiana (Nees) Wall. ex Hook.f. ? :: The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 11:58 AM IST

[Dinesh Valke]

FOR VALIDATION :: ¿ Litsea wightiana (Nees) Wall. ex Hook.f. ? The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 11:58 AM IST Marappalam, about 1128 m asl

Regards. Dinesh

[J.M. Garg]

I think the fruits look different according to 
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-Glyptopetalum-lawsonii-B-Litsea-keralana-C-Litsea-oleoides-D-Litsea-wightiana_fig4_360622753
https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/herbsheet.php?id=7309&cat=13

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With regards,
J.M.Garg, 
https://efloraofindia.com/

[J.M. Garg]

Pl. check
https://efloraofindia.com/efi/litsea-oleoides/
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-Glyptopetalum-lawsonii-B-Litsea-keralana-C-Litsea-oleoides-D-Litsea-wightiana_fig4_360622753

https://indiaflora-ces.iisc.ac.in/herbsheet.php?id=7302&cat=13

To me appears close. 

[Dinesh Valke]

Yes, many thanks Garg ji.

It looks close to L. oleoides; and is clearly different from L. wightiana illustrated in the article: Arigela, Ravi & Ahamed Kabeer, Althaf & Murthy, Gvs. (2021). Endemic flowering plants in Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu, India. NeBIO. 12. 1-20.

Regards.

Dinesh

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks a lot, Rajeev ji

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: rajeev singh 
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2026 at 14:27
Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:488936] FOR VALIDATION :: ¿ Litsea wightiana (Nees) Wall. ex Hook.f. ? :: The Nilgiris :: Feb 1, 2026 · 11:58 AM IST
To: J.M. Garg <jmg...@gmail.com>

Its Litsea oleoides (Meisn.) Hook.f.

Best Regards,

Dr. Rajeev Kumar Singh

Botanist 

Botanical Survey of India

AZRC, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Email: singh.rk1976@bsi.gov.in; rksbsi...@yahoo.co.in; rksbsi...@gmail.com

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Litsea coriacea!

[Dinesh Valke]

Many thanks, Rajeev ji, Tapas ji and Garg ji.

Hopefully the ID will be resolved between Litsea oleoides (Meisn.) Hook.f. AND Litsea coriacea (B.Heyne ex Nees) Hook.f.

Regards.

Dinesh

[J.M. Garg]

Google AI view gives:

Litsea coriacea and Litsea oleoides are closely related evergreen tree species within the laurel family (Lauraceae), both endemic to the high-elevation evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghats in India. While they share similar habitats and taxonomic characteristics, they are primarily distinguished by their plant size and leaf morphology. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Morphological Differences

Feature [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]	Litsea coriacea	Litsea oleoides
Plant Size	Small tree, usually reaching 6 to 12 meters in height.	Large to lofty canopy tree, typically growing 20 to 30 meters tall.
Leaf Arrangement	Leaves are strictly alternate.	Leaves are alternate, but frequently opposite or sub-opposite on younger shoots.
Leaf Shape & Size	Elliptic-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate, smaller (typically 8.5–17.5 cm × 2.5–7.5 cm).	Elliptic to elliptic-obovate, larger (typically 12–18 cm × 3–9.5 cm).
Leaf Texture	Leathery (coriaceous), with very prominent veins beneath.	Thickly leathery (coriaceous), often glaucous (whitish-blue waxy coating) beneath.
Fruit	A smaller greenish-white ovoid berry (10–12 mm long).	A larger, depressed-globose berry (up to 20 mm long, ripening red).

Ecological Differences

While both inhabit the Western Ghats (specifically states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu), their micro-habitats differ slightly: [1, 2, 3, 4]

• L. coriacea is often found at slightly lower to mid-elevations (900–1500m) in sacred groves, semi-evergreen forests, and occasionally on the edges of dry deciduous forests. [, 2, 3]
• L. oleoides is typically a canopy-dominant tree found in denser, wetter, high-altitude Shola forests and high evergreen habitats (usually above 1000–1400m). [, 2]

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Now I have noted the discussion. Please note that L. nigrescence is a counterpart of L. oleoides with alternate leaves. So, let us see what's the differences between L. nigrescens and L. coriacea? Well, L. nigrescens (as well L. oleoides) have the umbels (and fruits) borne on branches simulating racemes. Thus, the present plant has alliance to Litsea coriacea. However, if all parts glabrous unlike L. coriacea, your plant is Litsea wightii.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Tapas 

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Here are the fruits of Litsea nigrescens.

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Dear Dinesh ji,

In continuation to my above comments, please note that your plant is glabrous (appearing so) and the leaves are not glaucous. The umbels are arising on branches and shortly pedunculate. The fruits are subglobose.

In Litsea coriacea and L. wightii, the umbels are sessile or almost so, devoid of any peduncle. Thus your plant appears to represent a distinct species, not matching with others.

Regards,

Tapas 

[Dinesh Valke]

Thank you very much dear Tapas ji, for your thoughts and clarifications.

I am not familiar with Litsea and Lauraceae members, so I will wait to find what gets concluded in this post.

I am attaching higher resolution photos of the observation here for your perusal, 2 with this message, and 2 will follow in the next.

Regards.

Dinesh

[Dinesh Valke]

Balance 2 photos attached.

Regards.

Dinesh

[Tapas Chakrabarty]

Seems to be a new species.

[Dinesh Valke]

Many many thanks Tapas ji.

It will be good news if it turns out to be a new species.

The coordinates are available to field explorers, on the map of the observation page.

Regards.

Dinesh