Callicarpa tomentosa

{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Callicarpa Tomentosa 05.JPG

|genus = Callicarpa

|species = tomentosa

|authority = (L.) L.

|synonyms = *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.

|synonyms_ref = {{Cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-31012|title=Callicarpa tomentosa (L.) L. — the Plant List|access-date=2015-06-12|archive-date=2019-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718162252/http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-31012|url-status=dead}}

}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.biotik.org/india/species/c/calltome/calltome_en.html|title=Callicarpa tomentosa - VERBENACEAE}} Fruits provide food for wildlife. They are sometimes used to make herbal medicine. The leaves are also food for wildlife.[https://archive.org/stream/pharmacographia03dymogoog#page/n76/mode/1up/search/bastra Pharmcographia indica]

The leaf is known being used as a wick to light an oil lamp.{{cite news |title=The leaf that lit the pandavas’ path through the forest |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/170416/this-is-the-time-of-the-year-when-rama-roams-the-city.html |access-date=14 March 2022 |agency=Deccan Chronicle |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=17 April 2016}}

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.{{Cite web |title=The secret of Pandavara Batti used as torch by Pandava during exile |url=https://plantsinformation.com/the-secret-of-pandavara-batti-plant-used-as-torch-by-pandavas |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=www.plantsinformation.com}}{{Better source needed|reason=blogs generally not reliable sources|date=October 2022}}