1451

 

Mahonia leschenaultii (Wall. ex Wight & Arn.) Takeda

Synonym	:	Berberis leschenaultii Wall. ex Wight & Arn.
Family	:	Berberidaceae
Local name	:	English- Toda plant Malayalam-  Mullukadambu
Flowering and fruiting period	:	June-December
Distribution	:	Southern Western Ghats
Distribution in Kerala	:	Idukki
Habitat	:	Shola forests; Evergreen forests, altitude 1600-2500 m.
Endemic/Exotic	:	Endemic to western ghats
Uses		The fruits are strongly antioxidant, diuretic and demulcent. They are used in the treatment of dysentery. A decoction of the bark is used as eye drops to treat inflammations of the eyes. A decoction of the root and stem is used in the treatment of dysentery, abscesses, conjunctival congestion, sore pain, periodontitis, acute pharyngolaryngitis, tuberculosis, and hemoptysis.
Key botanical characters:  Evergreen trees, 4-7 m tall; bark light brown, corky, vertically and horizontally fissured; blaze sulphur yellow. Leaves compound, imparipinnate, verticelled at the tips of branches; rachis 17-33 cm, slender, glabrous, base sheathing with 2 subulate stipules; leaflets 7-17, opposite, sessile; lamina 3-9 x 1-5 cm, ovate, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-ovate; base obliquely truncate, rounded, subcordate or very obtuse; apex cuspidate; margin spinose, glabrous, rigid, coriaceous, shining above, pale beneath; 3-5 nerved from the base, raised beneath; secondary laterals 3-5 pairs, pinnate; intercostae reticulate, faint. Flowers bisexual, yellow, in racemes generally fascicled at the apices of stem, in umbel fashion, erect or oblique, often paniculate, 7.5-40 cm; pedicels 6-16 mm, with 2-3 appressed bracts; sepals 6, imbricate in 2 series; petals 6, imbricate in 2 series; nectaries distinct; stamens 6, free, anthers-cells opening by recurved valves; ovary single celled; ovules 5-6, basal, erect; style stout; stigma peltate. Fruit a berry, 8 mm across, broadly ellipsoid-globose, purple, pruinose, bitter, 3-5 seeded.