Coscinium fenestratum (Goetgh.) Colebr.
മരമഞ്ഞൾ


Family: MENISPERMACEAE
Sub-Family: Not available
English Name: Tree Turmeric
Synonym: Menispermum fenestratum Gaertn.
Common Name: Marathi, Manjavalli, Flase calumba
Flowering & Fruiting Period: August-October
Distribution: Indo-Malesia
Habitat: Semi-evergreen and evergreen forests
Uses: The root is considered to be a bitter tonic and stomachic. It is said that the effects of intoxication can be avoided if the roots are chewed and the juices swallowed before drinking. The plant has alleged antiseptic properties and is used to dress wounds and ulcers. The leaves contain picrotoxin-like bitter substances and the alkaloids palmatine, berberine and jatrorrhizine. A yellow dye resembling turmeric is obtained from the yellow wood. It is sometimes used in combination with turmeric (Curcuma longa). The freshly cut stems can be made into a strong rope by twisting them.
Key Characteristics: Woody climbers; wood yellow, branchlets hoary pubescent. Leaves simple, alternate, deltoid, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, margin entire; 5-7 ribbed. Inflorescence supra-axillary or cauliflorous. Female flowers mostly from old wood. Sepals 6, sericeous. Petals 3; ovary densely pilose, staminodes 6. Fruit of 1or 2 drupes, globose, brown villous, endocarp borny; seed 1, black, glabrous.