Celastrus paniculatus Willd.

 CELASTRACEAE

 Vernacular names:

Hindi                - Malkungi

Kannada          - Karigonne, Bhavanga beeja, Gangunde kayi, Kangili balli

Malayalam       - Palulavam, Valulavam, Cheru punna

Sanskrit           - Jyotismati, Pita taila , Kanguni

Tamil               - Vaaluluvai

Telugu             - Gundumeda, Maner tiga

 

Threat status:

Lower Risk near threatened - KA & TN

Vulnerable (A 1 c,d) - KL

 

Habit: Climbing shrub to large woody climber

 

Habitat: Dry deciduous to semi-evergreen forests

 

Altitude: Plains to 1300 m

 

Distribution: Global: Indo-Malaysia to China and Australia. National: Occurring throughout the country in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Regional: Common throughout southern states, more abundant in drier hill tracts.

 

Description: A large woody climbing shrub. Bark brown, thin. Branchlets hairless, with many distinct minute white dots called lenticels. Leaves alternate, egg-shaped to oblong-elliptic, about 5-15 x 2-8 cm, base round, apex acuminate, margin toothed with rounded teeth, hairless; lateral nerves 5-8 pairs, slender; leaf stalks about 3 cm long. Flowers unisexual, about 6 mm across, greenish white, collected in terminal paniculate cymes; panicles 5-30 cm long, pendulous. Capsules sub-globose, 5-10 mm across, smooth, yellow when mature, transversely wrinkled, dehiscing by 3-valves. Seeds 1-6, ellipsoid or ovoid, about 6 x 3 mm, yellowish brown, enclosed in crimson-red aril.

 

Phenology: Flowering: February to April;

                Fruiting: May to December

 

Medicinal uses: The stem bark is used as an abortifacient and brain tonic. Leaf sap is a good antidote for opium poisoning. Seeds are stimulant, diaphoratic, diuretic, tonic, appetizer, anti-inflammatory and used for abdominal disorders, leprosy, pruritus, skin diseases, paralysis, asthma, leucoderma, cardiac debility, inflammation, amenorrhoea and fever. Also used to stimulate the intellect and sharpen memory. The seed oil is used to cure berbery, sores and to promote intelligence and sharpen memory.

 

Trade information: Local, commercial and global. Seeds are sold under the trade name Maalkangani, Maalkankani beej, Jyothish mati and Valuluvai. The seeds are often confused with those of Cardiospermum halicacabum and Duranta spp. Priced at Rs. 50 to 110/ Kg. (Market studies, 1999-2000).

 

Mode of propagation: By seeds and stem cuttings

 

Special characters: The branch lets are prominently lenticellate. Capsules expose scarlet, arillate seeds.