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Mesua ferrea (Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut or locally,
Penaga Lilin). The plant is named after the heaviness of its timber
and cultivated in tropical climates for its form, foliage, and
fragrant flowers.
It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree up to 13 m tall, often
buttressed at the base with a trunk up to 90 cm in diameter. It has
simple, narrow, oblong, dark green leaves 7-15 cm long, with a
whitish underside; the emerging young leaves are red to yellowish
pink and drooping. The flowers are 4-7.5 cm diameter, with four
white petals and a centre of numerous yellow stamens.
It is the National tree of Sri Lanka. The wood is very heavy, and is
used for railroad ties and structural timber. Its resin is slightly
poisonous.
Medical use: Resin slightly poisonous but has a wide range of
medicinal applications for rheumatism, anemia, coughs, and as a
heart stimulant. It has antibacterial and antiinflammatory
properties and applied to wounds as a poultice.Flower buds used
against dysentery; oil from seeds can be used against skin
complaints. Flower as aromatic and expectorant;treats diarrhea and
scable. Flower petal consumed as cosmetic, antipyretic and after
Blrth remedy. Counters ezcema. and anti-HIV. |
