mesua
Mesua ferrea L.
Mesua ferrea L., a species in the family Calophyllaceae, is native to the Indomalayan region. It is a slow-growing tree known for the hardness and weight of its timber. The species is cultivated as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and fragrant white flowers. It holds the status of national tree in Sri Lanka and state tree in Mizoram and state flower in Tripura, India.
Description
Mesua ferrea is distributed across Andaman Is., Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicobar Is., Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Trinidad-Tobago. The species was first published in 1753. There has been taxonomic discussion regarding its lectotype, with Kostermans identifying it as M. thwaitesii, but this was refuted by Stevens. The tree is recognized for its ornamental value, featuring drooping young leaves with a pink to red flush and large, fragrant flowers.
Other common names
mesua
Distribution
Andaman Is. · Assam · Bangladesh · Borneo · Cambodia · China South-Central · China Southeast · East Himalaya · India · Jawa · Laos · Lesser Sunda Is. · Malaya · Myanmar · Nepal · Nicobar Is. · Philippines · Sri Lanka · Thailand · Trinidad-Tobago · Vietnam