Couroupita guianensis Aubl. | |
Lecythidaceae | |
Nagalingam Maram | |
| Botanical Name | Couroupita guianensis Aubl. |
| Synonyms | Couratari pedicellaris. Rizzini; Couroupita acreensis R. Kunth |
| Family | Lecythidaceae |
| Common Name | English : Cannon Ball Tree/ Tamil : Nagalingam Maram |
| Distribution | Global : Tropics of central and South America, India and Sri Lanka Indian: Throughout India. |
| Description | Large deciduous tree up to 20m height, Shedd their leaves 2 - 3 times per year, bark brownish grey in colour. Leaves simple, alternate, spirally arranged at tip of branch, oblong to lanceolate, entire, margin smooth, glabrous and nerves prominent. Inflorescence cauline and racemose originated from the main trunk. Flowers large showy, bisexual, complete, zygomorphic, hypogynous, calyx turbinate, petals 6, unequal, concave variously coloured form pinkish to yellow and white. Stamens numerous, monadelphous, arranged on a staminal band arise from the base of the ovary which bends above the carpel a peculiar structure observed in this flower. Staminodes present around the base of the ovary in the band. Ovary small, six locular, ovules many. Fruit large, globose, with hard brown shell, seeds embed in pulp that oxidised to bluish green when exposed to air. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | Throughout the year (after every leaf flushing)/ Through the year |
| Uses | Tree planted as ornamental and consider as holly plant. Fruit pulp used as animal feed. |
| Medicinal Uses | Used in the treatment of hypertension, tumors, inflammation, skin disorders and wounds. |
| Tamil Name | Nagalingam Maram |
