Machilus macranthus

{{Short description|Species of tree}}

{{Italic title}}

{{Speciesbox

|name = Large-flowered bay tree

|image = Persea macrantha2.jpg

|status =

|status_system =

|status_ref =

|genus = Machilus

|species = macranthus

|authority = Nees

|synonyms = Persea macrantha {{small|(Nees) Kosterm.}}

|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |title=Machilus macranthus Nees |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:466212-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=21 May 2025}}

}}

Machilus macranthus, the large-flowered bay tree,[http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Large-Flowered%20Bay%20Tree.html Persea macrantha - Large-Flowered Bay Tree] is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae), native to India, Sri Lanka, the Himalayas, Myanmar, and western Yunnan in south-central China.

The tree grows in the Western Ghats mountain range of India, and can reach {{convert|30|m|abbr=on}}. Leaves are simple, alternate, spiral; lamina obovate or elliptic to elliptic-oblong; apex rounded or acuminate or acute; base acute to rounded with entire margin.[http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/31616 Persea macrantha (Nees) Kosterm | Species | India Biodiversity Portal] Flowers show terminal panicle inflorescence. Fruit is a berry which becomes blackish on ripening.[http://www.biotik.org/india/species/p/persmacr/persmacr_en.html Persea macrantha - LAURACEAE]

The plant is known to have medicinal properties and used in Ayurveda.[http://www.toxicologycentre.com/English/plants/Botanical/kulamavu.html Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants Persea macrantha] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626192150/http://www.toxicologycentre.com/English/plants/Botanical/kulamavu.html |date=2015-06-26 }}{{unreliable source?|date=October 2017}}

File:Persea macrantha5.jpg