bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Callicarpa tomentosa is a species of beautyberry plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is found in Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. It is a small tree with about 5m tall. Leaves simple, opposite; elliptic to broadly elliptic; apex acute or acuminate. Purplish flowers show branched axillary cymes. Fruit is 3-4 seeded globose drupe.[2] Fruits provide food for wildlife. They are sometimes used to make herbal medicine. The leaves are also food for wildlife.[3]

Callicarpa tomentosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Genus:	Callicarpa
Species:	C. tomentosa
Binomial name
Callicarpa tomentosa (L.) L.
Synonyms[1]
Callicarpa arborea Miq. ex C.B.Clarke [Invalid] Callicarpa farinosa Roxb. ex C.B.Clarke [Invalid] Callicarpa lanata L. [Illegitimate] Callicarpa lobata C.B.Clarke Callicarpa tomentosa var. lanata (L.) Bakh. Callicarpa tomex Poir. [Illegitimate] Callicarpa villosa Vahl Callicarpa wallichiana Walp. Cornutia corymbosa Lam. [Illegitimate] Hedyotis arborescens Noronha [Invalid] Tomex tomentosa L.

The leaf is known being used as a wick to light an oil lamp.[4]

In Hinduism, it is said in the legends that when the pandavas went to exile, they lit the tree by applying oil to the leaves and burning them.[5]^{[better source needed]}

Common Names

• Sanskrit - Priyangu
• Marathi - Jhijhak
• Tamil - kattu-ke-kumil
• Telugu - bodiga chettu
• Kannada - Pandavara Batti

References

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