Mallotus philippensis
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Mallotus_philippensis_-_Köhler–s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-221.jpg
|image_caption =
|genus = Mallotus (plant)
|species = philippensis
|authority = (Lam.) Muell.Arg.
|synonyms = * Croton philippense Lam.
|}}
Mallotus philippensis is a plant in the spurge family. It is known as the kamala tree or red kamala or kumkum tree, due to the fruit covering, which produces a red dye. However, it must be distinguished from kamala meaning "lotus" in many Indian languages, an unrelated plant, flower, and sometimes metonymic spiritual or artistic concept. Mallotus philippensis has many other local names. This kamala often appears in rainforest margins. Or in disturbed areas free from fire, in moderate to high rainfall areas.
It occurs in South Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as Afghanistan and Australia. The southernmost limit of natural distribution is Mount Keira, south of Sydney. The species name refers to the type specimen being collected in the Philippines, where it is known as banato.
Description
A bush to small or medium-sized tree, up to 25 metres tall and a trunk diameter of 40 cm. The trunk is fluted and irregular at the base. The grey bark is smooth, or with occasional wrinkles or corky bumps. Small branches are greyish brown in colour, with rusty covered small hairs towards the end. Leaf scars evident.
Leaves are opposite on the stem, ovate to oblong in shape. 4 to 12 cm long, 2 to 7 cm wide with a long pointed tip. The upper surface is green without hairs, the underside pale grey in colour. With a magnifying glass, small red glands may be visible. Leaf stems 2 to 5 cm long, somewhat thickened at both ends. The first leaf vein on either side of the mid rib extends from the leaf base, to over half the length of the leaf. Veins raised and evident under the leaf.
= Flowers, fruit and regeneration =
Yellow-brown flowers form on racemes. Racemes up to 6 cm long. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. New South Wales flowering period is from June to November. Flowering period in the Philippines is March to April. Fruit may appear at any time of the year, three months or so after flowering. Usually a three lobed capsule, 6 to 9 mm broad, covered in red powdery substance. This is soluble in alcohol, which produces a golden red dye suited to colouring of silk and wool.{{cite journal|title=On the Colouring matter of the Rottlera tinctoria|author=Anderson, Thomas|pages=296–301|url=https://archive.org/stream/edinburghnewphil11855#page/296/mode/2up/|journal=The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal|year=1855|volume=1}} One small black globular seed in each of the three parts of the capsule, seeds 2 to 3 mm in diameter.
Fresh seed is advised for germination.
Uses
Mallotus philippensis is used to produce yellow dye and herbal remedies.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuartxchange.com/Banato.html|title = Banato / Mallotus philippensis / Kamala: Philippine Medicinal Herbs / Philippine Alternative Medicine}} It produces rottlerin, a potent large conductance potassium channel opener.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
Gallery
Image:Mallotus philipensis flowers.jpg|M. philipensis flowers
Image:MallotesPhilipensis.jpg|Red coloured fruit of the kamala, Nandi hills slopes, Bangalore, India
Image:Red Kamala Mount Keira.JPG|Red kamala at its most southerly point of natural distribution, Mount Keira, Illawarra, Australia
Image:Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus) feeding on Kamala (Mallotus philipensis) at Jayanti, Duars, WB W Picture 133.jpg|Black-crested bulbul feeding on the red kamala at Jayanti, India
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{cite book |url=http://rainforestpublishing.com.au/shop/rainforest-trees-of-south-eastern-australia/ |title=Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia |first=A. G. |last=Floyd |author-link=Alexander Floyd |publisher=Terania Rainforest Publishing |location=Lismore, New South Wales |year=2008 |edition=2nd, Revised |isbn= 978-0-958943-67-3 |page=154 |access-date=2010-03-05}}
- {{cite web |title=Mallotus philippensis|work=PlantNET – NSW Flora Online|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Mallotus~philippensis|accessdate=2010-02-28}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2510557}}
Category:Flora of the Australasian realm
Category:Flora of the Indomalayan realm
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Flora of Western Australia
Category:Flora of the Northern Territory
Category:Malpighiales of Australia
Category:Flora of the Indian subcontinent