| Binomial |
Calophyllum inophyllum L.
|
| Family |
Calophyllaceae
|
| Tamil Name |
Punnai Maram (புன்னை மரம்)
|
| Tree |
Medium to large evergreen tree, lowly branched with a broad, irregularly spreading crown, with gnarled branches. Leaves broadly elliptic, deep glossy green, glabrous with parallel veins.
|
| Bark |
Grey-coloured, rough with fissured trunk.
|
| Flowers |
Cream-coloured, fragrant, bisexual, borne on sturdy pedicels in axillary racemose inflorescence.
|
| Fruits |
Globose to subglobose drupe.
|
| Flowering and Fruiting |
March to October
|
| Pollinators |
Insects |
| Country of origin |
East Africa
|
| About the tree |
The Alexandrian Laurel has derived its generic name from the Greek terms ‘kalos’ denoting beautiful and ‘phullon’ meaning leaf.
The mature fruit is poisonous but can be burned as a mosquito repellent. The bark yields a resin which is used to treat wounds and insect bites. Secondary metabolites isolated from the leaves and seeds have been shown to be inhibitors of HIV type I. After purification, the oil extracted from the seed can be used in the production of soap and hair oil in cosmetics. Oil is also used as topical application for healing burns and skin diseases. Commonly mentioned in local chants and folklore, this tree is an integral part of Polynesian culture as the Mast wood with its massive, arching branches is not only used to make outrigger ships and canoes but also carved into religious objects like tiki.
|
| Location on campus |
https://goo.gl/maps/uVuZmjpr7bWwRVgt9 |
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