About Moullava spicata (Dalzell) Nicolson
Moullava spicata (Dalzell) Nicolson is a robust woody climber. Its branches bear recurved prickles. The leaves are compound and bipinnate, measuring 23–30 cm long, with 4 to 6 pairs of pinnae that each measure 7.5 to 12 cm long. Each pinna has 5 to 7 pairs of oblong, coriaceous, dark-green leaflets. The main leaf rachis is also armed with prickles. The flowers are sessile, arranged in dense spicate racemes that can reach 60 cm long. The raceme rachis is grooved, covered in soft hairs, and armed with prickles. The corolla has 5 obovate-spathulate dark orange petals, inserted at the top of the calyx tube; the corolla is 1 cm long and does not open fully. The calyx is scarlet, and the androecium contains 10 stamens. The fruit is a linear oblong pod, which is swollen above each seed and constricted between the seeds. It typically contains 3 to 4 oblong, hard, bony seeds. The seeds of Moullava spicata yield an oil that is used for burning in lamps.
