PLANT OF THE WEEK 4th week 8-12-2014 Nageswar (Mesua ferrea L. ) - Ironwood Tree Botanical Name : Mesua ferrea L. Uses Mesua ferrea L. Synonyms : Mesua ferrea subsp. Thwaitesii, Mesua thwaitesii Plank &Triana, Some facts Mesua coromandelina Wight, The whole plant parts are both economically and Mesua pedunculata Wight , medicinally important. Mesua speciosa Chois Mesua ferrea Mesua nagassarium (N.L.Burman) Kostermans. Wood : Wood is very heavy, hard and strong. It is (Nageswar) is Calophyllum nagassarium N.L.Burman widely used for heavy construction (Bridges, beam the state flower poles etc.) and heavy-duty flooring and furniture of Tripura State (railways sleeper, boat building etc.). and also the Family : Clusiaceae national tree of Local Name Bark : It is used as astringent & sudorific S r i L an k a. Odia : Nageswar In India, it is Leaves: Leaf having antibacterial, antifungal and considered as Hindi : Nagakesara, Nagapushpa, anti-inflammatory properties. sacred. Nageswar Keshara, Nagkesar, Nagesar Flower : The flowers are useful in ( Mesua ferrea L. ) It is widely cultivated in Asia as an English: Iron wood tree conditions like asthma, leprosy, ornamental due to its graceful shape Telugu : Kesaramu cough, fever, vomiting, impotency. and fragrant flower. This plant acts as Description Dried flowers are used for bleeding sink for dust pollution. Bengali : Nageswar hermorrhoids and dysentery with Tamil : Nagappu Habit : Trees evergreen up to 30 m tall. Trunk upright, buttressed at base, crown nausea. Its flower and leaves are used Kannada : Nagakesari conic. as an antidote to snakebite, and a powder of the flower with butter and sugar is used in bleeding piles and Leaf : Leaves always pendulous; leaf blade Habitat burning of the feet. Fresh flowers are useful in itching, Source reddish yellow when young, becoming dark green and somewhat lucid, lanceolate or Occasional in evergreen forests near nausea, piles, excessive thirst and sweating. Saxsena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. streams and rivers. narrowly ovate-lanceolate, learthery. (1994). The Flora of Orissa, Vol. I, Fruit : Pericarp of the fruit is astringent and stomachic. pp: 273-274 Flower: - Flowers bisexual, solitary, Distribution Seed : The Seed oil is considered for healing purpose Sharma P.C.; Yelne M.B.; Dennis India, Eastern Himalaya, Eastern & axillary; very variable in size, 1.8-7.5 cm T.J. (2005 ). Database on Medicinal across, fragrant. Sepals orbicular, convex. as in sores, wounds and rheumatism. Plants Used in Ayurveda, Vol.1, Western Peninsula, Malaysia, Myanmar, pp: 280-288. Petals white obovate- Sri Lanka. Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Root : It is aromatic and demulcent. Bangladesh, China.Tropical Asia cuneate; Stamens with Sharma R. (2003). Medicinal plants filaments filliform; of India-An encyclopedia, pp 158. anthers golden yellow. Swain B.K & Das S.K. (2007). Visual guide to wild medicinal plants of orissa, pp 263. Flowering time: March - July Fruit broadly Fruit: - Fruiting time: October—November ovoid or laterally www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ depressed globose mesua ferrea usually dehiscent by 2 Conservation Status www.envis.frlht.org valves. Endangered .