plant description

Ficus auriculata

Roxburgh fig, elephant ear fig tree

Name in other languages:       

higueradel Himalaya (Spanish) vả (Vietnamese)

Valiyaathi (Malayalam)

Roxburgh fig is a type of fig tree seen all over Asia noted for its big and round leaves. This is used as fodder in Nepal. It is least resistant to fire, but likes good sunlight.Ceratosolenem arginatus is the insect that helps to pollinate this plant. Its  fruits appear on thin branches emerging from the trunk or from the roots. The fruits are edible and are used to make jams, juices and curries in India

Holigarna arnottiana

Black Varnish Tree, Malabar marking nut 

Name in other languages:  

Kannada:-holageru • Konkani:-ranbibo • Malayalam: -karincher • Marathi: ranbiba • Tamil: -karunceru, -kattuceru 

Black Varnish Tree is a a large tree. In Ayurveda, the plant is believed to be helpful in treatment of inflammation, arthritis, hemorrhoids, obesity, tumor, cancer, and skin diseases.

    Costus pictus

            Insulin plant

          Costuspictus is a medicinal plant and capable of having Magic Cure             for Diabetes. Leaf of this herbal plant helps to build up insulin by                  strengthening beta cells of Pancreas in the Human body.

        Ormosia travancorica 

            Kannada-Betta Manjadi; Malayalam-Mala manchadi, Malai Ilanji; 

            Tamil-Kuni, Malai Manchedi,  Kalmanickum,

             It is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family.It is found in                   Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu of India. It is endemic to the Western Ghats. 

      Garcinia mangostana

     It is cultivated  tree in the tropical rainforest of some Southeast Asian          nations like Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, and and its fruit      is known as  “the queen of fruits”. Its extract is used as antioxidant,            antitumoral, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. 

               Naringi crenulata

           Malayalam Name(s): Dadhiphala, Kattunarakam,                              Mahavilvam, Malanarakam, Manmatham, Narinarakam,               Serakuttunarakam, Vilathi.It is a flowering tree. Flowering season is June- December.  It can be seen in the Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains of Palakkad, Kottayam, Kasaragode, Idukki, Malappuram, Kannur, Kozhikkode, Kollam, Thrissur, Wayanad districts of Kerala, India

       Mallotus philippensis

          Kamala Tree, Red Berry, Monkey Face Tree, Kamala Dye Tree

         Vernacular names : Bengali- Kamala; Hindi- Rohan,Sinduri, Raini.              Rohini, Kamala,;Kannada- Kunkumada Mara, Kampillaka, Kunkuma-      damara,; Malayalam-Ponnakam, Ponnagam, Naavatta, Sindooram , Kuramadakka, ,Kurangumanjas, Kunkuma ppuumaram, Pinoo,Kurangumanjal, Kapilam Kunkumam, Nuurimaram;

Marathi- Kapila,Kesari,Shendri;   Sanskrit- Kampilyaka; Tamil-Kungumam,Kapila Poti, Kapli,

KuranguManjanathi,Kapili,Manjanai,Kanapotta,Kapilapodi,Kunnancholai,Kapila,Thirisalakkaai, Korangumanjanathi,Kamala,Konaspootoo,Thirisalakkaimaram,Kuranku-mañcanari,Thavattai; Telugu- Kunkuma-chettu

Mallotus philippensis is a tree in the spurge family. It is known as the kamala tree or red kamala or kumkum tree, due to the fruit covering, which produces a red dye. This kamala often appears in rain forest margins. 

   Sapindus laurifolius

     soap berries or soap nuts 

     Malayalam Name: Uruvanchi

     Sapindus laurifolius is a small trees in the Lychee family, Sapindaceae,       native to warm temperate to tropical regions in both the Old World and New World. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. Its  fruit pulp is used to make soap. The generic name is derived from the Latin words sapo, meaning "soap", and indicus, meaning "of India"

    Cullenia exarillata

            Wild Durian.

        Vernacular names : 

    Malayalam-arayni Mullenpali, Vediplavu, Kurunguplavu,, Alanki, Mullenchankka, Vedippala, Mullenpali Malai              Konjil, anaipala,Kurunguplavu; Tamil-Polavu, Malai             Kongi,Karanai, Velupla, Karayini, Vedipila, Karavi, Aini        Pla, Vedu pla

An evergreen trees. Its frits are an important diet for the endangered species, lion tailed macaque

            Aporosa lindleyana 

                    Vernacular names : 

                    Tamil: Kodali, Vettikan, Vettil, Vittil, Vitti.  

                    Malayalam: Kodali, Kotili, Ponvetti, Vetti. Vittil.  

                    Kannada: Salle mara, Sali, Sarali, Sulla.

It is a medicinal tree..AporosaLindleyana is commonly seen in western ghats, Sri Lanka and in some rain forests of Kerala. In Ayurveda Aporosa lindleyana is named as Kodali. The extract of its root is a  very useful medicine. The name Aporosa lindleyana was given by a British Botanist John Lindley

Cynometra travancorica

Malayalam name- Koori

Rare canopy tree grow in the wet evergreen forests at an elevation between 200 - 700 m. Cynometra travancorica is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family. It is a threatened species by habitat loss and found only in India. 

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Camthium pariflorum

Malayalam name- Karamullu

 A thorny shrub with spreading branches. Leaves are small and simple. They are native to India, Sri Lanka, eastern and southern Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and some of the islands of the Pacific. 

Cordyline fruticosa

Cabbage palm, good luck plant, palm lily

It is an evergreen flowering plant in the Asparagus family, Asparagaceae. The green leaves are pointed, oval and blade-shaped, about 4 inches wide and vary from 1 to 2 feet long. Cordyline fruticosa may have originated in tropical Asia and Australia. A popular use of this plant was in making Okolehao, affectionately called ‘Oke’, a potent liquor much like a clear brandy.

Garcinia xanthochymus

Garcinia

Malayalam name- Vyrapuli / Rajapuli

 Garcinia xanthochymus is a tree with a rounded crown that grows from 4.5 to 7.6 m in height. Garcinia xanthochymus is native to northern India. The genus Garcinia contains 240 species with a center of diversity in the Old World. Garcinia xanthochymus is cultivated extensively in Southeast Asia where the fruit is made into preserves, jams, and curries. The dried fruit sap is called gamboge and provides a dye that is used in watercolor paints.

Flacourtia jangomas

Runealma Plum

Malayalam name- Vayyankatha

 Runealma plum is a small, spiny, evergreen tree that branches from very low down on the bole. It can grow up to 10 metres tall, but is usually smaller. The plant is cultivated, especially in tropical Asia but also in Tropical America, for its edible fruit.

Memecylon randerianum

Malayalam name- Kazhavu, Kaikkathetti, Koovachekki

This tree grows in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Kerala, India, and also in sacred groves.

Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin'

Malayalam name- Budha belly

Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin' or Dwarf Buddha Belly Bamboo is a tropical and Habitat: Bambusa vulgaris 'Wamin' prefers full sun to partial shade. If grown in deep shade, the nodes won't be as pronounced, as the plant will stretch to reach for the sun. Although the roots are cold hardy, the foliage is frost sensitive

It  is an ornamental bamboo used in garden landscaping or as erosion control. The culms are often used for handicrafts.

Dendrocalamus giganteus

 Giant Bamboo or Dragon Bamboo

Malayalam name- Paramula

Dendrocalamus giganteus is a giant tropical and sub-tropical clumping species native to Myanmar Bhutan, China and Thailand. It is considered the tallest bamboo in the world. This bamboo species produces a large amount of biomass. It can give an annual yield of 20 to 30 t/ha, which is 2.7 times more than that of Dendrocalamus latiflorus.

Diospyros candolleana

Malayalam name- Chola karimaram

Diospyros candolleana, is a tree in the Ebony family, endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Timber is hard, and used in building constructions. A decoction of root-bark is used in rheumatism and swellings in traditional medicine. The tree grows in wet evergreen forests.

Alangium salviifolium

Malayalam name- Valli angolam

 Alangium salviifolium is a flowering plant in the Alangiaceae family. It is also commonly known as Ankolam in Malayalam, Ankola in Kannada, Akola or Ankol in Hindi and Alanji in Tamil. In India, It’s mostly found in dry regions in plains and low hills and also found on roadsides. It’s native to Western Africa, Madagascar, Southern and Eastern Asia (China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Philippines), tropical Australia, the western Pacific Ocean islands and New Caledonia

In Ayurveda the roots and the fruits are used for the treatment of rheumatism and hemorrhoid. Externally, it is used for the treatment of bites by rabbits, rats, and dogs. The root-bark is also used in traditional medicine skin problems and as an antidote for snake bite.