Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. | |
Rutaceae | |
Kuruveppilai | |
| Botanical Name | Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. |
| Synonyms | Bergera koenigii. L.; Camunium koenigii .(L.) Kuntze |
| Family | Rutaceae |
| Common Name | English: Curry Leaf Plant / Tamil: Kuruveppilai |
| Distribution | Global: India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands and Africa . Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | A deciduous aromatic shrub up to 3-5 m tall with dark brown bark. The aromatic leaves are pinnate with 15-25 leaflets. Inflorescence Terminal cyme. Flowers are small, white fragrant and funnel-shaped, regular, pentamerous, stalked, complete, ebracteate, hypogynous, persistent, inferior, green, corolla, polypetalous, androecium, polyandrous, Calyx 5-lobed and petals are 5 in number. Stamens 10, small up to size of 4 mm, dorsifixed, arranged into circles, along superior gynoecium. Fruit black berries in small size with shiny appearance containing a single large visible seed and it turns purplish black when ripe. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | February-April/May-June |
| Uses | Commercially cultivated. The aromatic leaves are used to flavour curries. It is also eaten with other vegetables and used as essential oil. |
| Medicinal Uses | Used in treating piles, inflammation, itching, fresh cuts, dysentery, bruises, and edema. |
| Tamil Name | Kuruveppilai |