Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.
Vernacular name: Priyangu (Hindi: प्रियंगु)
Species Name: Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.
Family: Lamiaceae (Verbenaceae)
Habit: Evergreen shrub
Stem: Quadrangular, woolly-hairy, branched.
Leaf: Opposite, ovate-lanceolate 18-30 cm long, crenate margins, hairy beneath, dark green above.
Flowering: Monsoon season
Flowers: Bracteate corymbose cymes; small pink/purple, tubular corolla with 5 ovate petals, 4 stamens exserted, superior 4-locular ovary.
Fruit: White drupes in clusters, 4-seeded (seeds poisonous).
Uses:
- Leaves are warmed and applied to rheumatic joints.
- Leaves are smoked to relieve headache in folk remedies.
- Seed-paste used in stomatitis.
- Wood paste used in mouth and tongue sores.
- Seeds and roots are employed as stomachic.
- Bark is used in rheumatism and diseases of genitourinary tract.
- Plants parts are crushed and used for skin conditions due to astringent property.
- The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the fruit in emesis and giddiness.
- In Ayurvedic medicines, plant is also used to prepare tonics to purify blood.
- Fruit acts a good nutrient source for various birds and mammals.
- Some regions uses this plant as minor source of fuel.
- Plant is an ornamental plant.
