Persea macrantha explained

Persea macrantha, the large-flowered bay tree,^[1] is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae), native to southwestern India and Sri Lanka.

The tree grows in the Western Ghats mountain range of India, and can reach 30m (100feet). Leaves are simple, alternate, spiral; lamina obovate or elliptic to elliptic-oblong; apex rounded or acuminate or acute; base acute to rounded with entire margin.^[2] Flowers show terminal panicle inflorescence. Fruit is a berry which becomes blackish on ripening.^[3]

The plant is known to have medicinal properties and used in Ayurveda.^[4]

Common names

• Kannada - chittu thandri, gulamaavu, gulimaavu
• Malayalam - kulamavu, ooravu
• Marathi - gulaamba
• Tamil - iruli, kolamavu, kolarmavu
• Telugu - naara

Notes and References

1. http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Large-Flowered%20Bay%20Tree.html Persea macrantha - Large-Flowered Bay Tree
2. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/31616 Persea macrantha (Nees) Kosterm | Species | India Biodiversity Portal
3. http://www.biotik.org/india/species/p/persmacr/persmacr_en.html Persea macrantha - LAURACEAE
4. http://www.toxicologycentre.com/English/plants/Botanical/kulamavu.html Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Persea macrantha