Elaeocarpus serratus is a tropical flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae. It is a medium to large tree, with white flowers. It has a disjunctive distribution, with the species occurring in Sri Lanka and southern India, and in Assam, Bangladesh and other parts in the north of the Indian subcontinent. The fruit is commonly eaten, and people also use the plant for ornamental, religious and folk-medicinal purposes. There are historical records of traditional-medicine use of the plant. Paradoxurus jerdoni (Brown palm civet) consumes parts of the tree. Variety The species has an accepted variety, Elaeocarpus serratus var. weibelii. Description The taxa is a medium to large evergreen tree with a large spreading crown, reaching 15 to 60m in height. The flowers have pale-green petiole, 5 white to pale-olive-green calyxes calyx, sepal 4-6mm long, 5 white corollas, petals 4-5mm long, slightly-black anther, 18-30 stamen. The flowers expand to maximum size in late afternoon and hence are likely adapted to night pollinators, i.e. moths. Bears smooth ovoid green fruits the size of about 2.5 cm long. Recommended varieties are local cultivars (round and oval fruits). It has a brown seed inside the fruit. The seed has a hard outer shell. The seeds are slow for germination and can take up to 2 years. The wood is whitish yellow. Distribution The species has a disjunctive distribution, it is native to an area of southern and southwest India and Sri Lanka, and to an area from Assam, northeast India, to Bangladesh. Countries and regions in which it is indigenous to are: Sri Lanka; India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh); Bangladesh. It has been introduced/naturalised to Réunion and Mauritius. The weibelii variety is native to Karnataka and Kerala in southwest India. Habitat and ecology The tree is drought tolerant. Areas of high suitability for the plant in Assam include continuous patches of tropical and subtropical forest, and areas with a mosaic of fragmented groves, settled cultivation areas and human settlements. It grow less well in areas of degraded open forest, settled cultivation, homestead gardens and some human settlements. Areas of low suitability include grasslands, degraded open forest and some human settlements. It occurs in the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka, and is found in various protected areas of Assam, including Nameri National Park, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, Pakke Tiger Reserve and Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. The palm civet Paradoxurus jerdoni (Brown palm civet) consumes parts