Description

Malabar Embelia is a shrub found in peninsular India, particularly on the Malabar region. It is also found in the Himalayas, from Kashmir to Sikkim, at altitudes of 400-1600 m. Leaves are generally at the end of branches, ovate, pointed, with entire margins. Flowers are borne in lateral racemes, which are 3 times shorter than the leaves. Flowers are very small, greenish yellow, with petals expanded, pointed. Berries are round, red when ripe, sweet tasting. The plant flowers in summer. In Malayalam it is called Ammimurian, also known as Ishaal, Cheriyakottam, Basal, Marakkira, Kattuvizhal and Valiya Vizhalari, is a very medicinal plant. (Scientific name: Embelia tsjeriam-cottam). It is found all over India, especially in Malabar. This shrub grows into a large vine that grows on trees. It is used in many places to add spice to the veil. The wild dogs of Wayanad use its leaves for food. It is used medicinally in folk medicine and Ayurveda. It is a food plant of the butterfly-larvae.

Characteristics:

Deciduous shrubs; young stem densely brown pubescent. Leaves 3-7 x 2-4 cm, elliptic-obovate, attenuate at base, margin serrulate, caudate acumiante at apex, glabrous, venation prominent below; petiole to 1 cm long. Racemes axillary, 2.5-4 cm long, appear along with leaves. Peduncle brown pubescent. Pedicel c. 2 mm long. Calyx lobes triangular, c. 1 mm long. Corolla yellow with a thick callous at base inside; lobes 1.5-2 mm long, punctate. Anthers with red gland at the back. Ovary globose; stigma truncate. Fruits 3-4 mm across, subglobose, red tipped by the style.

Medicinal Uses:

It is a widely used plant in Ayurveda, Seed is used as a vermifuge, the bark of the root in toothache and decoction of leaves as a gargle in sore-throat and in making a soothing ointment.