417


  Polyalthia longifolia (Sonner.) Thw. Enum.


Synonym
:
Unona longifolia (Sonn.) Dunal
Family
:
Annonaceae
Local name
:
English- Cemetery tree
Malayalam-  Aranamaram
Flowering and fruiting period
:
March-August
Distribution
:
Native of Sri Lanka, introduced to many tropical countries
Distribution in Kerala
:
 All Districts
Habitat
:
Grown as ornamental tree
Endemic/Exotic
:
Exotic
Uses
:
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.        
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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