About Iron-wood tree
Memecylon umbellatum, commonly known as ironwood, anjani (Marathi) or alli (Telugu), is a small tree found in India, the Andaman islands and the coastal region of the Deccan. It is also found in Sri Lanka, where it is called blue mist, kora-kaha (Sinhala language) and kurrikaya (Tamil language). The leaves contain a yellow dye, a glucoside, which is used for dyeing the robes of Buddhist monks and for colouring reed mats (Dumbara mats). Medicinally, the leaves are said to have anti-diarrhoeal properties. Historically, this plant was burnt as fuel in the production of Wootz steel.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Memecylon umbellatum
- Genus
- Memecylon
- Family
- MELASTOMATACEAE
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Along rocks in ravines and slopes of semi-Evergreen forests, also in sholas
- Native to
- India
- Distribution
- India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malesia
- Flowering & fruiting
- February-September
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Local Names
- Hindi
- Anjan अंजन, Kaya
- Telugu
- Mandi, Lakhonde
- Kannada
- ಅರಚರೆ Arachare, ಅರಚಟೆ Arachate, ಅಲಮರು
- Malayalam
- Kanjavu
- Marathi
- अंजनी Anjani
Melastomataceae
Melastome family
Iron-wood tree belongs to the Melastomataceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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