Memecylon umbellatum Burm.f.

കായംപൂമരം

Family : MELASTOMATACEAE

Synonym :

Memecylon edule Roxb.

Common Names : Anakkayavu, Anjanamaram, Kanali, Kalayam, Kannavu, Kayampoomaram, Kasavu, Netunjetti, Ironwood tree

Flowering Period : February-March

Distribution : Peninsular India and Sri Lanka

Habitat : Semi-evergreen, shola and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains

Uses : Fruit edible as raw. The bark is used to treat bruises. The leaves are astringent. They are used internally in the treatment of gonorrhoea and leucorrhoea. Used externally, the leaves make a cooling astringent wash and a lotion for treating conjuctivitis. The roots are astringent. A decoction is used in the treatment of excessive or irregular menstrual discharge and menstrual pains. The wood is hard, strong, very flexible. It is used for piles, axles etc, building houses and boats.

Key Characters :

Large shrubs. Leaves 2.5-5 x 1.5-3 cm, ovate-oblong or elliptic, base cuneate, apex obtuse to rounded, coriaceous, drying yellowish green; petiole c. 5 mm long. Umbels compact, 1.5-3 cm across, sessile or very short peduncled, many-flowered; flowers subsessile. Calyx 2-3 mm wide, pale bluish, truncate or shallowly 4-lobed. Petals blue, elliptic-ovate to orbicular. Filaments blue; anthers c. 1.5 mm long. Style blue. Berry c. 7 mm across, globose, initially yellowish green; mature fruit bluish black.