Xylopia parvifolia
(Wt.) Hook.f. & Thoms.
Wikimedia Commons - Govindoo
Wikimedia Commons - Beddome, R. H.; Bentham, George
nicoplant
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit are edible and eaten fresh. The root bark, flowers, and fruit are sweet-scented and traditionally chewed with betel leaves.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows at low elevations in wet evergreen forests up to 600 m above sea level.
Asia, India, Sri Lanka,
How to Identify
A tree. It grows 25 m tall. The trunk has buttresses. The bark is thin and smooth. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are in 2 rows. The leaf blade is 7-9 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. The petals are brown. The fruit is a cluster of seeded berries. They are oval and 3 cm logn by 2 cm wide.
Medicinal Uses
The root bark, flowers, and fruit are traditionally used in betel leaf preparations, valued for their sweet scent.
Other Uses
The white or greyish-white wood is moderately hard to hard.
Names & Synonyms
Atuketiya, Chidda-vintai, Kalpootta, Kalpottan, Netawu, Saanthu, Ulli
References (2)
- Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 694
- www.biotik.org
