Cascabela thevetia, Oleander, Lucky nut – Kaner

Description

Cascabela Thevetia, Oleander, Lucky nut – Kaner

Cascabel Thevetia is an evergreen tropical shrub or small tree. Its leaves are willow-like, linear-lanceolate, and glossy green in colour. They are covered in a waxy coating to reduce water loss (typical of oleanders). Its stem is green turning silver/grey as it ages. Flowers bloom from summer to fall. The long funnel-shaped sometimes-fragrant yellow (less commonly apricot, sometimes white) flowers are in few-flowered terminal clusters. Its fruit is deep red-black in colour encasing a large seed that bears some resemblance to a ‘Chinese lucky nut.

Cascabel Thevetia is commonly known as Kaneir or Kaner (कनेर) in the Hindi language in India. It is effectively drought-resistant and tolerant to high temperatures, hence found in various states of India like Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh where the semi-arid climate is prevalent.