Scientific name: Couroupita guianensis Aubl.
Family: Lecythidaceae
Synonym: Couroupita peruviana O.Berg
Bengali/Vernacular name: Naglingom, Nagkeshor.
English name: Cannonball tree.
Description of the plant: A large evergreen tree growing to a height of 20 m. Leaves simple, alternate, shortly petiolate, oblong-obovate, and entire to slightly serrate. Inflorescence is racemose, arising from the trunk and other large branches. Flowers are reddish with a yellow tinge on the outside, fragrant, with stamens borne on an overarching androphore. Fruit larger than cricket ball, reddish-brown globose, 15-24 cm in diameter, with a woody capsule, seeds embedded in the pulp.
Plant parts used: Leaf.
Ethnomedicinal uses: Juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is used to treat skin disease.
An extract is made with the young leaves of the plant by boiling in water is used for gargling four times a day for five days to treat toothache.
The leaves of the plant are used for the treatment of alopecia, inflammation, fever, and malaria.
Distribution: This species planted in the gardens.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….