Kamala Tree

Scientific name of Kamala Tree: Mallotus philippensis

Name of Kamala Tree in different languages:-

English: Kumkum tree, Monkey face tree, Scarlet croton, Orange kamala, Red kamala

Sanskrit: kampilyaka- काम्पिल्यक

Hindi: Kamala-कामला kamala, Rohini- रोहिनी rohini, Sindury-सिन्धुरी.

Tamil: kapila poti- கபிலப்பொடி

Malayalam: Chenkolly-ചെങ്കൊല്ലി, Kumkumapoo Maramകുങ്കുമപ്പൂമരം.

Plant description:

Kamala Tree or Kumkum tree is an evergreen bush, found in semi-evergreen forests up to 1500 m. of Western gats, grows up to 12 m tall, and its trunk grows up to 40 cm. in diameter.  The bark is grey, and smooth, with occasional wrinkle, branches are grayish-brown. Leaves are arranged oppositely, simple, alternate, ovate to oblong; up to 12 cm long, and 7 cm, apex pointed. The flowers are Yellow-brown, on racemes up to 6 cm long. Fruits are red, found in clusters, globular, capsules, size to 3 mm in diameter.

Leaf Arrangement

Shape-Oblong	Margin-Entire	Venation-Reticulated

Useful plant parts:

Seed, oil, bark

Medicinal uses:

To treat scabies, used as a purgative, ringworm.

Chemical contents:

Potassium, tannic acid, and volatile oils.

Kamala Tree  is used as an ingredient to prepare the Ayurvedic medicines like:

• Vilangadi Choornam
• Krimighatinivati