Callicarpa tomentosa

Callicarpa tomentosa is a species of beautyberry plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is found in Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. It is a small tree with about 5m tall. Leaves simple, opposite; elliptic to broadly elliptic; apex acute or acuminate. Purplish flowers show branched axillary cymes. Fruit is 3-4 seeded globose drupe.[2] Fruits provide food for wildlife. They are sometimes used to make herbal medicine. The leaves are also food for wildlife.[3] The leaf is know being used as a wick to light a oil lamp.[4]

Callicarpa tomentosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Callicarpa
Species:
C. tomentosa
Binomial name
Callicarpa tomentosa
(L.) L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Callicarpa arborea Miq. ex C.B.Clarke [Invalid]
  • Callicarpa farinosa Roxb. ex C.B.Clarke [Invalid]
  • Callicarpa lanata L. [Illegitimate]
  • Callicarpa lobata C.B.Clarke
  • Callicarpa tomentosa var. lanata (L.) Bakh.
  • Callicarpa tomex Poir. [Illegitimate]
  • Callicarpa villosa Vahl
  • Callicarpa wallichiana Walp.
  • Cornutia corymbosa Lam. [Illegitimate]
  • Hedyotis arborescens Noronha [Invalid]
  • Tomex tomentosa L.

Common Names
  • Hindi - Pandavara Batti (Pandav's Torch)
  • Tamil - Vettilai-pattai
  • Malayalam - Thin perivellam, thiriperivelam
  • Kannada - Rishipathiri, Arthigida, Pandavara Batti

References
  1. "Callicarpa tomentosa (L.) L. — the Plant List".
  2. "Callicarpa tomentosa - VERBENACEAE".
  3. Pharmcographia indica
  4. "The leaf that lit the pandavas' path through the forest". Deccan Cronicle. Deccan Cronicle. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2022.


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