Category: C

Calamus lakshmanae Renuka (PALMAE)

Common name
Kannada: Halu betha.

Description: Clustering, high climbing canes; stems to 20 m or more long, easily breaking. Leaves up to 1.7 m long, ecirrate; petioles up to 22 cm, spiny; sheath yellowish green to green, densely spiny, spines up to 1 cm long, bulbous based, distal younger sheaths with brown markings; knee present; leaflets more or less equidistant, up to 45 x 2 cm, linear – lanceolate, 3-veined, margins spinulose, terminal pair united to more than half their length. Inflorescence long, pendulous. The fruit is oval-shaped, measuring approximately 10 by 7 millimeters. It contains scales arranged in 26 rows, with a channel running through the middle, appearing yellowish brown with brownish-black portions at the base and tip. Inside, the endosperm shows a ruminate structure.

Flowering : November.
Fruiting : May – June.

Distribution: India: Evergreen forests of Western Ghats at lower elevations. Karnataka. Endemic.

Uses: A good cane used in furniture industry.

Calamus karnatakensis Renuka & Lakshmana (PALMAE)

Description: Clustering, high climbing canes; stems to 20 m or more long. Leaves up to 1.5 m long, ecirrate; petioles up to 30 cm long; sheath yellow, lower part greenish brown or greenish yellow, brown tomentose when young, densely spiny, spines ca 2.5 cm long, mouth of sheath with spines up to 4 cm long; knee conspicuous; ocrea up to 6 cm long, with small spines; leaflets more or less equidistant, ca 50 x 2.5 cm, 3-veined, veins and margins spinulose, terminal pair united basally. Inflorescence long, long flagellate. The fruits are roughly 8 mm in diameter and globose. They feature scales organized in 19 rows, with a yellow hue and chestnut brown margins, turning a light violet color when ripe. The endosperm is non-ruminate.

Flowering : December – January.
Fruiting : April – May.

Distribution: India: In evergreen forests of Western Ghats between 530 – 1200 m. Karnataka. Endemic.

Uses: Used in furniture industry.

Calamus hookerianus Becc. (PALMAE)

Common names
Malayalam: Kakkachural, Kallan, Vanthan, Velichural.

Description: Clustering, high climbing canes; stems more than 10 m long. Leaves up to 2 m long, ecirrate; petioles up to 75 cm long, spiny; rachis with a single row of spines; sheath brownish green, brown tomentose, densely spiny, spines triangular, the largest 2.5 x 0.5 cm; mouth of sheath with 15-18 cm long papery spines; knee when present not conspicuous; ocrea up to 8 cm long, caducous; flagellum up to 5 m long; leaflets more or less equidistant, up to 55 x 2.5 cm, linear-lanceolate, tip with short bristles. Inflorescence up to 5 m long; male inflorescence branching to 3 orders; female inflorescence branching to 2 orders. The fruits are approximately 8 mm across and subglobose in shape. They exhibit scales arranged in 18 rows, appearing yellowish-brown with dark brown margins. The endosperm is non-ruminate.

Flowering : January – July.
Fruiting : July – December.

Distribution: India: In evergreen forests of Western Ghats up to 1000 m. Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Endemic.

Uses: Extensively used in furniture industry and basket-making.

Canarium strictum Roxb. (BURSERACEAE)

Common names
English: Black dammar, Black dhup, Indian white mahagony.
Sanskrit: Raladhupa
Kannada: Kari dhup, Halemaddu, Raala dhupa.
Tamil: Attam, Karunkungiliyam.
Malayalam: Karuthukungiliyam, Thellim.
Telugugu: Nalla rojanamu.

Description: Large trees, 20-30 (-50) m tall, buttressed; branches tawny tomentose. Leaf rachis up to 35 cm long; leaflets (5-) 7-11, ovate to ovate-elliptic, ovate-lanceolate, oblong-obovate, lanceolate or oblanceolate, 7 -22 x 4 – 10 cm, rounded at base, shortly acuminate at apex, coriaceous, tawny pubescent beneath; nerves prominent beneath. Flowers in axillary up to 40 cm long, thyrsoid, sometimes racemose, inflorescence, unisexual or bisexual, white or pale-green with mangiferous odour. Calyx lobes 3. Petals 3, oblong-lanceolate, pubescent outside. The disk is covered in fine hairs. The fruit is a drupe, oblong-ellipsoid, reaching up to 4 x 1.8 cm, and is dark blue. It contains a single elongated seed.

Flowering & Fruiting: January – December

Distribution: India: In moist evergreen forests. Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Orissa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Myanmar. Well seasoned timber is used for making boards, for ceiling, flooring and partitions.

Uses: The resin from the tree called black dammar of commerce is used in the manufacture of varnishes, bottling wax and as a substitute for Burgundy pitch in plasters. It is used for caulking boats. Decoction or powdered resin is given internally as a remedy in rheumatism, cough, fever, epilepsy, asthma, syphilis, blood impurities, various poisons, hernia, haemorrage and to improve complexion.

Calophyllum polyanthum Wallich ex Choisy (GUTTIFERACEAE)

Common names:
English: Poonspar or Sirpoon tree.
Kannada: Kuve, Siriponne.
Tamil: Katta pinnei, Pongu.
Malayalam: Katta pinna, Pinnapai.

Description: Trees, 7-45 m tall; bark yellow, grey to brown or balck, exfoliating in longitudinal, oblong flakes. Leaves opposite, ovate to elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, 10-15 x 3-4 cm, acute or cuneate at base, obtuse or acute to acuminate at apex, shiny, coriaceous, glabrous, sparsely puberulous on prominent midrib when young; lateral veins minute, distinct on both surfaces, horizontal, nearly perpendicular to midrib; petioles canaliculated above; young leaves red. Flowers in simple or paniculate terminal and axillary ca 16 cm long racemes, 1-2 cm in diam., polygamous, yellowish, fragrant. Sepals 4. Petals 4. Stamens numerous (140-320), yellow. Ovary ovoid, 1-loculed with 1 ovule. The fruit is a drupe, ranging from subglobose to ovoid or subovoid, measuring 2.3-3 x 2 cm across, smooth in texture, and appears yellow or dark purple when ripe. The seed is either elliptic or ovoid and brown in color.

Flowering & Fruiting: January – July.

Distribution: India: Tropical wet evergreen forests. Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.Thailand, South Western China.

Uses: The fruit is edible. Seed oil is used for illuminating purposes. Wood reddish white to light reddish brown with darker streaks, antitermitic, used to furnish poonspars of commerce (which are used for masts), ceiling boards, rafters, planking, cheap furniture, ship building, bridge building and general construction. The timber is also used for making tea-chests, tent poles and mathematical instruments.

Calophyllum inophyllum L. (GUTTIFERAE)

Common names
English: Dielo Oil tree, Alexandrian Laurel.
Sanskrit: Nagachampa, Panchkesara, Punnaga.
Kannada: Honne.
Tamil: Pinnai.
Malayalam: Punna.
Telugu: Poona or Puna.

Description: Towering trees reaching up to 20 meters in height, displaying a wide-spreading crown. Their bark varies from brown to pale grey, often marked with broad, boat-shaped clefts; they produce milky or yellow exudate. The branchlets are either compressed or slightly flattened. Leaves opposite, broadly elliptic-oblong or obovate, 15-20×5-9 cm, cuneate to rounded at base, rounded or subacute at apex, thinly coriaceous; midrib prominent below, venation distinct, close, raised on both surfaces giving the blade a seriate appearance; petioles stout, flat. Flowers in 5-15-flowered, 5-13 cm long axillary racemes, polygamous, marble white, fragrant. Sepals 4. Petals usually 4. Stamens numerous (175- 440), connate into 4-6 bundles; anthers rounded, yellow when young, brownish at maturity. Ovary, globose, depressed, pink or light purple after pollination. Fruit a drupe, globose or spherical to obovoid, 2.5-5×2.5-4 cm, yellowish when ripe. Seed solitary, subspherical, up to 2 cm across.

Flowering: Probably flowering throughout the year with several flushes.
Fruiting: December – October.

Distribution: India: Common in coastal regions. Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshwadeep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Tropical East Africa to Taiwan, New Caledonia.

Uses:

• The oil extracted from the seeds serves various purposes, such as making soap, burning, painting, and functioning as a lubricant; it can also act as a substitute for castor oil. The wood is either reddish-white or reddish-brown in color. The timber is durable under water and is used for beams, furniture, railway carriages, cooperage, crane shafts and ship building, especially for keels and for pully blocks. It is also used for fishing boats and cabinet work. Bark boiled in water is used for dyeing fishing nets.
• Cultivated as an ornamental and for shade throughout India. The root is used for treating ulcers; the resin is used as a purgative, emetic, applied to wounds and ulcers; bark astringent, used in internal haemorrhage; decoction of bark applied in indolent ulcers; pounded bark used in orchitis and its juice used as purgative; leaf is used in soar throat, vertigo and migraine; leaf soaked in water and applied to inflated eyes; the decoction of flower is given to cure syphilis, eczema and insanity; seed oil known variously as Wundi; Pinnay; Domba; Dillo; or Poonseed oil applied externally in rheumatism and skin diseases. Refined oil is injected intramuscularly to relieve pain in leprosy.

Canthium dicoccum (Gaertner) Teys. & Binn. var. umbellatum(Wight) Santapau & Merch. (RUBIACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Amme mara, Amme hannu.
Tamil: Nallamanthanam.

Description: Trees without thorns, reaching heights of 8-10 meters with smooth grey bark. Their leaves are arranged opposite to each other, shaped as elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, measuring 8-15 x 3-5 cm, with a pointed base, a shortly acuminate tip, and a smooth surface; their petioles are around 1 cm long. Flowers in dense, axillary umbellate cymes, white. Calyx pubescent, lobes 5. Corolla-tube short, lobes 5, reflexed, white. Stamens 5, attached to the throat of corolla; filaments short, white-hairy near the base. Ovary 2-locular; style short, glabrous; stigma capitate. Fruit a drupe, obovoid, ca 1.5 cm across. Seeds 2, oblong.

Flowering & Fruiting : November – February.

Distribution: India: In evergreen and dry evergreen forests of south India, hilly regions, up to 2000 m. Myanmar.

Uses: Bark employed as a febrifuge and applied externally in fractures.

Calophyllum apetalum Willd. (GUTTIFERAE)

Common names
Sanskrit: Jothishmathi.
Kannada: Holehone, Surahonne.
Tamil: Siru pinnai.
Malayalam: Cherupinna.

Description: Trees, up to 30 m tall; bole cylindrical; bark yellowish, very thick and characteristic with boat-shaped furrows and lenticels; exudate white or yellowish. Leaves opposite, ovate, obovate or oblong to elliptic, 5-20×2.5-5 cm, truncate to rounded to rarely acute to cuneate at base, obtuse-retuse or emarginated at apex, glabrous; venation close, veins most prominent on lower surface; petioles deeply canaliculated above. Flowers small, in 5-13- flowered, 4-7 cm long axillary racemes, bisexual, white. Sepals 4 (rarely 3), prominently veined, biseriate, 2 outer broadly ovate to orbicular, two inner boat-shaped, elliptic to obovate, white, petaloid. Petals absent, rarely 3, 4 or 5, small, caducous. Stamens numerous (40 – 85), many seriate; anthers rounded or mucronulate at apex. The fruit is a drupe, either ovoid or ellipsoid, measuring 1-2 x 1 cm, smooth-textured, red when mature, and turning a greyish-green when dried. The solitary seed is ovoid to ellipsoid, smooth, and measures 7.5-13 x 5-7 mm.

Flowering & Fruiting: September – May.

Distribution: Common along the banks of rivers and streams in evergreen forests and backwaters along west coast at low elevations up to 600 m (1300 m). Maharashtra, Karnataka Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Endemic. A threatened species.

Uses: Ripe fruits are sweet and eaten locally. Seed oil greenish yellow with a characteristic odour, used as fuel for lamps. Wood pale reddish white or pale reddish brown with darker streaks, used for construction, bridges, boats, oil-mills, cabinet work, building purposes and also for making matchboxes. Resin used as a vulnerary, resolutive and anodyne; seed oil is used for treating rheumatism and leprosy.

Canthium angustifolium Roxb. (RUBIACEAE)

Common names
Malayalam: Kattara-mull.
Tamil: Mullu nenki, Kattu kara.

Description: Subscandent armed shrubs; spines 1-1.2 cm long, slightly curved; branches rusty-pubescent. Leaves opposite, ovate-cordate to lanceolate, 4.5 – 9 x 2-4 cm, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, glabrous and shining; petioles 2-3 cm long, rusty-pubescent. Flowers in axillary fascicles, 5-merous, greenish-white. Calyx tube turbinate, lobes 5. Corolla tube short, lobes 5, reflexed, white. Stamens 5, attached to the throat of corolla; filaments very short. Ovary 2-locular, style short, hairy; stigma fusiform. The fruit is a drupe, either globose or obcordate, measuring 1-1.5 cm across, and turns dark blue when ripe. It contains two compressed seeds.

Flowering & Fruiting : November – June.

Distribution: India: In the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghatsand West Coast. Myanmar.

Uses: Leaf used in swellings and root-bark anticephalgic.

Caryota urens L. (PALMAE)

Common names
Kannada: Baini.
Tulu: Yeend.
Malayalam: Iram-ponei, Chunda pana.
Tamil: Konda panei.
Telugu: Konda jivalaggum, Mari.

Description: A unarmed palms, up to 20 m tall, 30-45 cm in diam. with cylindric, annulate, not or scarcely soboliferous, smooth, grey, shining, covered with long shallow cracks with corky edges. Leaves bipinnate, 5-7 x 3-4 m; pinnae 1-2 m long drooping; leaflets alternate, cuneiform, 10-20 cm long, obliquely truncate, irregularly serrate-toothed on the margin, upper margin produced beyond the leaflets into a tail, quite glabrous, bright green, shining; petioles ca 6-8 cm thick. Spadix 3-4 cm long; branches simple, forming a dense tassel drooping from the stout peduncle. Spathes ca 45 cm long, closely embracing the peduncle of the spadix. Flowers unisexual. Sepals 3. petals 3, reddish. Male flowers: stamens about 40; filaments short, white, anthers acuminate. Female flowers exhibit three staminodes, a three-loculed ovary, a three-lobed stigma, all on a sessile structure. The resulting fruit is a round berry, approximately 2 cm in diameter, with a reddish hue and containing one or two brown seeds.

Flowering & Fruiting: All seasons.

Distribution: India: Throughout. Common in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats, up to 1300 m.

Uses:

• The pith furnishes a good palatable sago. Toddy, convertible into arrack, is obtained by tapping the peduncle. Sweet toddy is used for making jaggery. The terminal bud of the palm is edible and is eaten raw with jaggery, or cooked as vegetable, or pickled. Wood brown with close black streaks, very hard, strong and durable, used for hut building, agricultural implements, water conduits, tank pipes and rice pounders. It is resistant to termite attack.
• The trunk is used for making drums. The roots are carbonized to give a charcoal preferred by silversmiths and goldsmiths. A very strong fibre, the “Kittul fibre”, obtained at the base of leaf sheaths, petioles and flowering stalks is made into ropes, brushes, brooms, fishing lines and nets, bow strings etc. The nuts are utilized in crafting buttons, beads, and various items. When fresh, toddy derived from these nuts acts as a mild laxative; however, it possesses an acrid taste. It can alleviate thirst and fatigue and, when applied to the head, is used in treating hemicrania.