Knema attenuata (Hook. F. & Thomson) Warb. (MYRISTICACEAE)
Common names
Kannada: Raktamara.
Tamil: Chorappattiri, Suriya pattri, Kariyan.
Malayalam: Chora pathri, Chora payin.
Description: These trees can reach heights of up to 20 meters, and their young parts are covered in a tawny tomentum. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, measuring up to 22 x 8 cm, with an acute to rounded base and an abruptly acuminate apex. The undersides of the leaves have a glaucous appearance. Flowers in stellately tomentose umbels, dioecious. Perianth lobes 3, brown and stellate-tomentose outside, glabrous and pink inside. Filaments and connectives connate in a peltate disk; anthers 12-20. Fruits ovoid or oblong-ovoid, up to 4 x 2 cm, rusty tomentose. Seeds ovoid; aril laciniate only at apex, crimson.
Flowering & Fruiting: December – May
Distribution: India: In evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Endemic to South W. India. It is one of the ingredient of ‘Ashwagandhadhinei’ (medicated ghee), used for treatment of spleen disorders, breathing disorders and tastelessness.
