Myristica malabarica Lam.

 

Family: Myristicaceae

Synonym: Palala malabarica (Lam.) Kuntze 

Vernacular names: Chorapali, Kattujathi, Kattujathikka, Kottappannu, Panampalka

Habit: Dioecious trees, height 15 m

Habitat: Evergreen and swamp forests

Distribution: Western Ghats and Bangladesh

Flowering and fruiting: January-September

Key identification features: These dioecious trees grow up to 20 m tall with greenish-black, smooth bark. Their leaves are simple, elliptic or elliptic-oblong, and glossy above with a bluish-green underside. The white flowers are unisexual, and the fruit is a pubescent capsule.

 Uses: Managing respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis, owing to its bronchodilator and expectorant properties.

Myristica beddomei King

 

Family: Myristicaceae

Synonym: Myristica beddomei subsp. ustulata W.J.de Wilde 

Vernacular names: Adakkapayin, Chithirapoovu, Kattujathi, Kothappayin, Painpoo

Habit: Evergreen dioecious trees, to 25 m high

Habitat: Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests

Distribution: South India (Endemic)

Flowering and fruiting: December-May

Key identification features: These evergreen dioecious trees grow up to 25 m in height. Their bark is with a blackish-green surface that exfoliates in small pieces. The leaves are simple, alternate, and distichous. Male and female flowers are white, with the male flowers occurring in clusters of 10-20. The fruit is an ovoid capsule, .

Uses: Seeds and arils are used for the treatment of cough, bronchitis, burning sensation, myalgia, sprains and sores

Knema attenuata (Wall. ex Hook.f. & Thomson) Warb.

 

Family: Myristicaceae

Synonym: Palala attenuata (Wall. ex Hook.f. & Thomson) Kuntze )

Vernacular name: Rakta mara, Kaadu pinde (Kan.)

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Evergreen forests

Distribution: Western Ghats (Endemic)

Flowering & Fruiting: December-June

Key identification features: These dioecious trees grow up to 18 m in height. Their bark is with a surface that varies from greenish-black to greenish-brown, mottled with green and white. The leaves are simple, alternate, and distichous. Flowers are unisexual, occurring in rusty pubescent fascicles on thick peduncles. The fruit is a 2-valved capsule.

Uses: Its essential oil is renowned for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, making it beneficial in alleviating pain and reducing inflammation associated with various conditions.