Mesua ferrea L.
നാഗച്ചെമ്പകം


Family: CLUSIACEAE
Sub-Family: Not available
English Name: Indian Rose Chestnut
Synonym: Mesua nagassarium (Burm.f.)Kosterm.
Common Name: Churuli, Nangu
Flowering & Fruiting Period: April - July
Distribution: Indo-Malaysia
Habitat: Evergreen forests
Uses: Source of heavy hardwood with high density and durability similar to ebony, and dark reddish-brown heartwood. Used for heavy construction. Plant parts possess anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-haemorrhagic and anti-helmintic (deworming) properties, traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. Seed oil also used to relieve skin itch, dandruff and rheumatism. Leaves used to treat fever, sore eyes and leprosy. Fresh flowers used to improve digestion and as cough remedy. Flowers used for their fragrance in perfumery (Nagchampa perfume), incense, cosmetics and soaps.
Key Characteristics: Trees; bark ash or grey coloured, reddish when cut. Leaves red and pendulous when young, simple, opposite, elliptic to oblong-lanceolate. Flowers white, scented, solitary or in pairs at axils, bisexual. Sepals 4 in two pairs, broadly ovate, persistent. Petals 4, sometimes 5, white with brown veins, obovate or obcordate, margins curled. Stamens numerous; anthers yellow. Ovary ovoid; ovules 2 in each locule; stigma peltate. Fruits ovoid; seeds 1-4, pyriform, dark brown.