title: Moullava spicata
text: # Moullava spicata
  
  Moullava spicata is an endemic species of creeper found in the Western Ghats of India.
  
  ## Description
  
  As follows:
  
  * It is a robust woody climber, having recurved prickles on its branches.
  * Leaves - compound, bipinnate, 23–30 cm long with 4 to 6 pairs of pinnae, each 7.5 to 12 cm long, and having 5 to 7 pairs of oblong, coriaceous and dark-green leaflets on each pinna. The main rachis is armed with prickles.
  * Flowers - sessile in dense spicate racemes reaching 60 cm long; the rachis is grooved with soft hairs, armed with prickles.
  * Corolla - has 5 petals, inserted on top of the calyx-tube, obovate-spathulate, dark orange. 1 cm long, doesn't open fully.
  * Calyx : scarlet,
  * Androecium : has 10 stamens.
  * Fruit - a linear oblong pod, swollen above the seeds and constricted between them.
  * Seeds - 3 to 4, oblong, hard, bony.
  * Habit
  * Bipinnate leaves
  * Inflorescence
  * Fruit
  * Seeds
  * Recurved prickles
  
  ## Natural history
  
  Moullava spicata is a creeper endemic to the moist deciduous and semievergreen forests of the Western Ghats. The creeper flowers and fruits from October to May. The flowers are frequented by birds and insects.
  
  ## Uses
  
  The seed of M. spicata yields an oil used for burning in lamps.
  
  ## Local names
  
  Local names in the different ranges of the Western Ghats are:
  
  * English: Candy Corn plant
  * Marathi: Wagati वागाटी, Wakeri वाकेरी
  * Tamil: Okkadikkodi, Pulinakkagondai
  * Kannada: ಗಜ್ಜಿಗಾಬಲ್ಲೀ Gajjigaballi
  