Morphological information

A shrub or semi evergreen tree 2- 10 cm. leaves ovate. 4-15x 1.5- 6 cm apex acuminate, base rounded to cordate; petioled 5-15 mm. Racemes c4O- flowered 3- 16 cm with- 2 leaf like bracts 1.5- 4 cm at base. Sepals triangular, 1.5- 2.5 mm, corolla cylindric, 8- 12 x 2.5- 5 mm, white, sometimes tinged. Pink towards apex, pubescent, filaments hairy towards base. Anthers with 2 spreading, basal spurs 0.5mm. capsule globose 2.5- 4.5 x 3.5- 6 mm. Seeds c 1 mm.

Flowering                       : May-July

Fruiting                          : August-December

History                          :

Parts                             : Leaves and Young buds.

Status                           : Low risk

Phytochemistry            : Lyoniside isolated as trihydrate from wood (Pharmazie 1984, 39, 425; Chem. Abstr. 1984, 101, 167203j).

 

Medicinal

The leaves contain toxic substances, andromedoxin and are insecticidal. Freshly collected young shoots or the stem bark is crushed and the prepared paste is applied externally on skin and cutaneous diseases as ringworm, scabies and eczema. It gives burning sensation on the affected area, which can be dip into the cold water to relieve from the pain. Note: They are poisonous to goat and cattle and cause cerebral symptoms. The honey from the flower is also reported to be poisonous.

 

 

---