Elaeodendron glaucum

(Rottboll) Persoon

Ceylon tea

CelastraceaeLeavesRootsSpice/BeveragePotential hazards — see below

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(c) SONU KUMAR, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves - tea, Root

The leaves are used as tea, and the root is edible.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Asia.

Asia, Hawaii, India, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, Sri Lanka*, USA,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Fiji, Micronesia, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Nauru, New Zealand, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pakistan, Palau, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Taiwan, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Vanuatu, Samoa, Yemen

How to Identify

A tree. It is like Elaeodendron orientale. The leaves remain the same size. The edges of the leaves are scalloped. The flower group are loose and 10 cm long.

How to Grow

Prefers a clay soil.

Medicinal Uses

The dried and powdered leaves are used as sternutatoires. They are also burnt and the smoke used as a fumigant in the treatment of certain nerve diseases, particularly to rouse women from hysteria. The powdered leaves are used as a snuff to relieve headaches. The bark is astringent and is also considered poisonous. The fresh root bark is rubbed into a paste with water and applied as a poultice on swellings. The root is said to be specific against snake-bite. A cold water extract of the crushed roots is used as an emetic.

Other Uses

A high quality gum is obtained from the plant. It is only available in small quantities. The bark contains from 8 - 13.5% tannins. The leaves contain from 8 - 15% tannins. The heartwood is a dirty brick-red; it is not clearly demarcated from the white outer wood. It has an exceedingly close, firm grain, is moderately hard and durable. It is easy to work, yielding a very smooth surface. An excellent wood, but usually only available in smaller sizes and so not very useful commercially. It can be used for cabinet work and picture frames.

Names & Synonyms

Ratangaura

Cassine glauca (Rottboll) Kuntze

References (4)

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 287
Kumar, R. & Saikia, P., 2020, Wild edible plants of Jharkhand and their utilitarian perspectives. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol 19 (2), April 2020, pp 237-250
Staples, G.W. and Herbst, D.R., 2005, A tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. p 232
Syn. pl. 1:241. 1805