Alangium salviifolium
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{speciesbox
|image = Alangium salviifolium Engler.png
|image_caption =
|genus = Alangium
|species = salviifolium
|synonyms =
- Alangium acuminatum {{small|Wight ex Steud.}}
- Alangium decapetalum {{small|Lam.}}
- Alangium lamarckii {{small|Thwaites}}
- Alangium latifolium {{small|Miq. ex C.B.Clarke}}
- Alangium mohillae {{small|Tul.}}
- Alangium tomentosum {{small|Lam.}}
- Karangolum mohillae {{small|(Tul.) Kuntze}}
- Karangolum salviifolium {{small|(L.f.) Kuntze}}
- Grewia salviifolia {{small|L.f.}}
}}
Alangium salviifolium, commonly known as sage-leaved alangium, is a flowering plant in the Cornaceae family. It is also commonly known as Ankolam in Malayalam, Ankola in Kannada, Akola or Ankol in Hindi and Alanji in Tamil. In India, Its mostly found in dry regions in plains and low hills and also found on roadsides.{{cite book|last1=Krishen|first1=Pradip|title=Jungle Trees of Central India|date=2013|publisher=Penguin group|isbn=9780143420743|page=164}}{{cite book|last1=Neginhal|first1=S.G|title=Forest trees of the western ghats|date=2011|publisher=S.G Neginhal IFS (Retd)|isbn=9789350671733|page=176}}
Etymology
The name Alangium is Latinized from the Malayalam name Alangi, which, in Kerala, refers to Alangium salviifolium.Umberto Quattrocchi. 2000. CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names volume I. CRC Press: Boca Raton; New York; Washington, DC;, USA. London, UK. {{ISBN|978-0-8493-2675-2}} (vol. I). (see External links below). It was named in 1783 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in his Encyclopédie Méthodique Alangium At: International Plant Names Index. (See External links below).Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. 1783. Encyclopédie Méthodique: botanique. 1(1):174 (See External links below).
Description
Sage-leaved alangium is a small, bushy tree offering a dense canopy with a short trunk. It bears fragrant white flowers which have green buds. The petals of the flower typically curl backwards exposing the multiple stamens and a linear stigma distinctly sticking out. The fruits are spherical berry like and red in color. The prominent remains of the calyx can be seen distinctly with a white color. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong-lanceolate. The stunted branches end up with sharp ends making it look like thorns.{{cite book|last1=A|first1=Kavitha|last2=N|first2=Deepthi|last3=R|first3=Ganesan|last4=S C|first4=Gladwin Joseph|title=Common dryland trees of Karnataka|date=2012|publisher=ATREE|location=Bangalore|isbn=978-81-902338-4-2|page=42}}
In India, this tree is mostly found near sandy riverine tracts and road cuttings. This tree flowers between February and April and Fruits between March and May just in time before the rainy season starts. It sheds it leaves completely when it flowers and leaves start coming when it begins to fruit. It is considered as a holy tree and temples have been built near it.{{cite web|url=http://www.columbuslost.com/2013/01/holy-ankola-or-alinjal-tree-at.html|date=January 2013|access-date=24 April 2023
|title=Holy Ankola or Alinjal Tree}}
File:Sage-Leaved Alangium 09.JPG
Distribution
It is native to the Indian subcontinent, the Comoro Islands and eastern tropical Africa.{{cite web |title=Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:271431-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=23 March 2021}} In the Indian sub-continent, it is found in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.{{cite book|last1=K. N|first1=Ganeshaiah|last2=R|first2=Ganesan|last3=R|first3=Vasudeva|last4=C G|first4=Kushalappa|last5=A R R|first5=Menon|last6=Patwardhan|first6=Ankur|last7=S R|first7=Yadav|last8=Shanker|first8=Uma|title=Plants of Western Ghats (Vol.1)|date=2012|publisher=School of Ecology and Conservation GKVS Bangalore|location=Bangalore|page=57}} Other countries and regions which it occurs in are: Bangladesh; Sri Lanka; Nepal; West Himalaya; Comoro Islands; Kenya; and Tanzania.
Biodiversity and ecology
The flowers are bird and bee pollinated. It is mainly pollinated by pale-billed flowerpecker (Dicaeum erythrorhynchos), purple-rumped sunbird (Leptocoma zeylonica), purple sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) and two large carpenter bee species, Xylocopa latipes and Xylocopa pubescens.{{cite journal|last1=Raju|first1=A. J. Solomon|last2=Rao|first2=S. Purnachandra|title=Nesting habits, floral resources and foraging ecology of large carpenter bees (Xylocopa latipes and Xylocopa pubescens) in India|journal=Current Science|date=2006|volume=90|page=1211|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258959568}}{{cite journal|last1=Aluri Raju|first1=Jacob Solomon|last2=Rao|first2=S Purnachandra|last3=K|first3=Rangaiah|title=Bird-mediated pollination and seed dispersal in a deciduous tree species, Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin (Alangiaceae) in the Subtropical Eastern Ghats Forests of India|journal=Journal of the National Taiwan Museum|date=2005|page=69|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262949355}}
The birds that feed on the fruits are common myna (Acridotheres tristis), babblers (Turdoides sp) and rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri).{{cite journal|last1=J|first1=Patrick DAvid|last2=Manakadan|first2=Ranjit|last3=T|first3=Ganesh|title=Frugivory and seed dispersal by birds and mammals in the coastal tropical dry evergreen forests of southern India: A review|journal=International Society for Tropical Ecology|date=2015|page=45|url=http://tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_56_1/02%20David,%20Manakadan%20&%20Ganesh.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121045608/http://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_56_1/02%20David,%20Manakadan%20&%20Ganesh.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=21 November 2014}}
This is the host plant of the larvae of a rare Western Ghat hawkmoth Daphnis minima{{cite journal|last1=KUMAR GHORPADÉ|last2=R.R. PATIL|last3=MALLAPPA K. CHANDARAGI|title=Notes on Hawk Moths (Lepidoptera—Sphingidae) in the Karwar-Dharwar transect, peninsular India: a tribute to T.R.D. Bell (1863-1948)1|journal=Colemania|date=2013|page=9|url=http://indiabiodiversity.org/biodiv/content/documents/623.pdf}}
Uses
In Ayurveda the roots and the fruits are used for the treatment of rheumatism and haemorrhoid. Externally, it is used for the treatment of bites by rabbits, rats, and dogs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Sage%20Leaved%20Alangium.html|title=Alangium salviifolium. Sage Leaved Alangium|access-date=24 April 2023}} The root-bark is also used in traditional medicine skin problems and as an antidote for snake bite. The root-bark is also used to expel parasitic worms (Platyhelminthes) and other internal parasites from the body. It is used as an emetic and purgative as well.
The wood is said to be hard and close-grained because of which good finishing is possible. It is used to make ornamental work, pestles and rollers and also is good as a fuel wood. The stems because of its sharp ends are used as a spear in Kenya. The twigs are also used as toothbrush in India. It is considered to be good for making musical instruments and for making furniture as well.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
Gallery
Alangium salviifolium in Keesaraguda, AP W2 IMG 9106.jpg
Alangium Salvifolium 06.JPG
Sage-Leaved Alangium 04.JPG
Sage-Leaved Alangium 02.JPG
Alangium Salvifolium 19.JPG
Alangium Salvifolium 20.JPG
Alangium salviifolium 04.JPG
Alangium salviifolium in Keesaraguda, AP W IMG 9104.jpg
Sage-Leaved Alangium 06.JPG
Alangium salviifolium leaves and flowers 18.JPG
Sage-Leaved (Alangium salviifolium) fruits in Visakhapatnam.jpg
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20130410131724/http://ayurvedicmedicinalplants.com/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=26&page=view&catid=1&key=26 ]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140824082644/http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Lobed-leaf%20Alangium.html Alangium platanifolium
- Lobed-leaf Alangium]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q10927686}}