Magnolia champaca (L.) Baill. ex Pierre

ചെമ്പകം

Family : Magnoliaceae

Synonym : Michelia champaca L.

Common Names : Chempakam, Golden champa, Yellow champa

Flowering Period : March – July

Distribution : Indo-Malaysia and China

Habitat : Evergreen forests, also grown as garden plant

Uses : Remedy for eye disorders, headache, essential oil yielding, aphrodisiac, timber yielding, ornamental. The aromatic, bitter bark is sometimes used for the adulteration of cinnamon. The bark is used as a febrifuge. A decoction of the bark and leaves is given after childbirth. The flowers are used to treat leprosy.

Key Characters :

Champak is an evergreen tree, bark surface grey with numerous pits. Leaves simple, alternate; lamina ovate, ovate-lanceolate, margin entire, wavy. Flowers bisexual, yellow or white, fragrant, axillary or terminal, solitary; perianth parts oblanceolate, fleshy; stamens numerous; carpels many, superior. Fruit an aggregate of capsules, ovoid to ellipsoid.