Mallotus resinosus
Mallotus resinosus, the resinous kamala ,[2] is a species of 12m tall shrub, evergreen plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is native to India, Sri Lanka to New Guinea and Australia.[3] The plant is known as "கருவாளிச்சீ / karuvalichchi" by Tamil people.
Mallotus resinosus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
Genus: | Mallotus |
Species: | M. resinosus |
Binomial name | |
Mallotus resinosus (Blanco) Merr. | |
Synonyms | |
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Leaves
Elliptic to obovate; base attenuate; margin serrate.[4]
Flowers
Inflorescence - present, where male flowers are clustered and unbranched. Female flowers are also unbranched, but with 3 locules and few short spines.[5]
Fruits
globose seeded capsule.[6]
Chemistry
Scientists found a simple coumarin, called Scopoletin from the root extraction of resinous kamala. It was identified as the active principle responsible for DNA cleavage activity during the extraction process. The chemical was once thought that only found within plants of genus Scolopia[7]
References
- http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-119063
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Buckthorn-Leaved%20Kamala.html
- http://www.biotik.org/india/species/m/mallrham/mallrham_en.html
- http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/263250
- http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Resinous%20Kamala.html
- http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Mallotus_resinosus.htm
- Ma, J; Jones, S. H; Hecht, S. M (Sep 2004). "A coumarin from Mallotus resinosus that mediates DNA cleavage". J Nat Prod. 67 (9): 1614–6. doi:10.1021/np040129c. PMID 15387675.