Lagerstroemia tomentosa C.Presl
Vernacular name: Bentham’s Crape Myrtle, Banaba (regional: Lendia, Lendra)
Species Name: Lagerstroemia tomentosa C.Presl
Family: Lythraceae
Habit: Deciduous tree.
Stem: Medium to large tree 10–20 m tall; bark grey to brown, exfoliating in thin flakes; young branchlets densely tomentose.
Leaf: Opposite to subopposite, elliptic to oblong, 8–20 × 4–10 cm, entire, densely tomentose beneath, short-petiolate.
Flowering: Summer (April–June).
Flowers: Large, pink to pale mauve, borne in terminal panicles; petals 6, crinkled; stamens numerous, unequal; ovary superior, 3–6-celled.
Fruit: Woody ellipsoid to ovoid capsule, 2–3.5 cm long, dehiscing into 6 valves; seeds numerous, winged.
Uses:
- Planted as an ornamental tree for its attractive flowers and exfoliating bark.
- Wood is moderately hard, durable, light grey to greyish brown and used for furniture, construction, and agricultural implements, carts, shafts and boat making.
- It is also planted in afforestation and avenue plantations.
- Bark acts as a stimulant and febrifuge.
- Root has astringent property.
- Leaves and flowers can be used as a purgative.
