Bio Diversity Park

Common Name : Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut

Hindi Name : नागेसर | Scientific Name : Mesua ferrea
Family : Calophyllaceae
Uses : A sacred tree in India, it is also harvested in the wild for its oil-rich seed and aromatic flowers. Because of its slow growth rate, mesua is not suitable as a plantation tree for timber production, however, it is an attractive lawn tree with vivid green leaves and showy, fragrant flowers. It is commonly grown along roadsides and in parks. The tree exudes an aromatic white resin when it is wounded. The leaves are applied to the head in the form of a poultice for severe colds. Oil from the seeds is used for sores, scabies, wounds, and rheumatism. The root of this herb is often used as an antidote for snake poison. The dried flowers are used for bleeding hemorrhoids and dysentery with mucus. Fresh flowers are also prescribed for excessive thirst, excessive perspiration, cough, and for indigestion.
Native: Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China and W. & Central Malesia
General Description:

It is a slow-growing, evergreen tree with a regular, dense, conical crown; it can grow from 30 - 45 metres tall. The bole is cylindrical to poorly shaped, up to 95cm in diameter, often fluted or buttressed at the base. It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree up to 13 m tall, often buttressed at the base with a trunk up to 90 cm in diameter. It has simple, narrow, oblong, dark green leaves 7-15 cm long, with a whitish underside; the emerging young leaves are red to yellowish pink and drooping. The flowers are 4-7.5 cm diameter, with four white petals and a centre of numerous yellow stamens.