
Gardenia gummifera
L.f.
RUBIACEAE
Vernacular names:
Hindi -
Oikamali
Kannada -
Kat kambi,
Kambi pisin, Bikki gida
Malayalam - Gandharajan, Somanadikayam
Marathi - Oekamali, Karmarri
Sanskrit -
Nadihingu,
Gandharaj
Tamil -
Kambi,
Vella pavetta, Thikka ma/li
Telugu -
Bikki,
Sirubikki,
Manchibikki, Tellamanga
Threat
status: Vulnerable (A 1 c) - Globally
Habit:
Small trees
Habitat: In degraded slopes and thickets of dry forests
Altitude: 80 -1100 m
Distribution: Endemic to Peninsular India.
Regional:
Drier
zones of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh. Few plants have been reported in Marayur forest,
Chinnar, Idukki district, Kerala by Dr. N. Sasidharan, forming a
new report for Kerala. In Maharashtra, reported only from the
hill forests of Raighad district. Common in dry forests in
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Description:
A small
tree or large shrub, 3-7 m tall. Branchlets twisted, crooked,
brittle.
Barkthin,
smooth,
greyish .brown. Wood
yellowish white, hard and close-grained. Leaves opposite,
inverted egg-shaped to oblong, 4-8 x 2-4 cm, base rounded to
slightly heart-shaped, apex abtusely acute, margin entire,
leathery, nearly stalkless; lateral nerves 10-16 pairs,
distinct, with a dot-like gland known as 'domatia' at the axil
of each nerve. Flowers bisexual, solitary,
axillary; corolla-tube 3-5 cm long with 5 spreading lobes at
apex which is about 5 cm across, white turning yellow, fragrant.
Berries ellipsoid to oblong, about 4 x 3 cm,
smooth, not prominently ribbed. Seeds many,
minute.
Phenology: Leaf fall:
December
to January; New foliage: February;
Flowering: March to May; Fruiting: April
onwards
Medicinal uses:
Resin from
leaf buds is used in curing wounds, indigestion, gas trouble,
piles, chronic coughs, neuropathy, anorexia, colic, foul ulcers,
intestinal worms (especially round worms), cardiac debility,
leprosy, skin diseases, intermittent fever, enlargement of the
spleen and obesity.
Trade
information:
Local,
regional and national. The gum is traded under the name
Oikamali
gum,
priced at
Rs.20 to 100/Kg. (Market studies, 1999-2000). Market samples
generally consist of gum attached to the twigs.
Mode of
propagation:
By seeds
and stem cuttings
Special
characters:
Twisted
branchlets, yellow glistening resin at the tip of young leaves,
presence of gland dots at the axils of lateral nerves in leaves,
attractive fragrant white flowers (turning yellow) and
eggshaped fruits resembling 'guavas' are striking field
characters.