417
Polyalthia longifolia (Sonner.) Thw. Enum.
Synonym
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Unona longifolia (Sonn.) Dunal
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Family
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Annonaceae
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Local name
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English- Cemetery tree
Malayalam- Aranamaram
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Flowering and fruiting period
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March-August
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Distribution
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Native of Sri Lanka, introduced
to many tropical countries
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Distribution in Kerala
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All Districts
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Habitat
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Grown as ornamental tree
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Endemic/Exotic
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Exotic
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Uses
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Plant is used as an antipyretic
agent in indigenous systems of medicine.
Pharmacologic studies on the bark and leaves of this plant show effective antimicrobial activity,
cytotoxic function, antiulcer activity, hypoglycemic activity, and hypotensive effect.
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Key botanical characters:
Tall trees, height 15-20 m;
internode bole straight; crown conical; bark 2 cm thick, grayish-brown,
smooth; young branches spreading, pendulous, slender, glabrous or sparsely
puberulous when young. Leaves simple, alternate, distichous, estipulate;
petiole 10-15 mm, pubescent when young, slender; lamina ovate-lanceolate or
lanceolate; base round; apex acuminate; margin entire, strongly undulate,
glabrous, shining above and dull beneath, coriaceous, lateral nerves up to 30
pairs, obscure, pinnate, intercostae reticulate. Flowers bisexual, green,
numerous, in umbels or fascicles at the axis of fallen leaves; pedicels
slender, 2-3 cm long, slightly pubescent; bracts submedian; sepals
-triangular, pubescent, connate at base; petals 6 (3+3), subequal, linear,
broad at base, puberulous; inner ones stamens numerous, cuneate, connective
dialated and thickened beyond the cells; carpels many, puberulous, ovoid,
style oblong; stigma sessile; ovule one. Fruit aggregate of berries; berry
ovoid to ellipsoid, obtuse at both ends, glabrous, reddish to black; seed
one, almost ovoid, smooth or slightly grooved, pale brown, shiny.
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