Mesua Ferrea
Family : Clusiaceae
Common Name : Cobra saffron, Ceylon ironwood, Indian rose chestnut
Hindi Name : Nag champa, Nagkesar
Tamil Name : Tadinangu
Assamese Name : Nokte
Sanskirt Name : Nalakeshara
Tree Characteristics :
A handsome Indian evergreen tree often planted as an ornamental for its fragrant white flowers that yield a perfume; source of very heavy hardwood used for railroad ties. In olden time, the very hard timber was used for making lances. It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree up to 13 m tall, often buttressed at the base with a trunk up to 90 cm in diameter. It has simple, narrow, oblong, dark green leaves 7-15 cm long, with a whitish underside; the emerging young leaves are red to yellowish pink and drooping. The flowers are 4-7.5 cm diameter, with four white petals and a centre of numerous yellow stamens. The flowers have many uses - they are used to make an incense and also used to stuff pillows in some countries. It is the National tree of Sri Lanka.
Nursery Practice :
Seed is easy to handle in the nursery and germination is good and rapid. Seedling germination is hypogeal. Seed germination rates are in the 30-70% range, however, record germination rates of 75-90% in 11-24 days have been made. The seed loses its viability quickly, 2-3 months. Best storage is done using perforated polythene bags at 5 deg C. Protection from moisture and sunlight is essential for fair germination and early growth. There are 300-500 seeds
/kg.
Economic Use:
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Yields a moderately durable, heavy and very hard wood (often blunts saws). The wood is used for heavy construction (posts, beams, rafters, joists, columns) and heavy duty flooring and furniture. Also used for joinery, cabinet work, tool handles, agricultural implements, vehicles and boat building.
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Fodder: Decorticated seed kernel meal can be incorporated up to the 10% level to replace maize in the feed of poultry without adverse effects on their performance. M. ferrea seed meal is a good source of protein and energy, and its use as a feed ingredient for cattle is proposed. Seed meal contains 12.8% digestible crude protein and 87.3% total digestible nitrogen on a DM basis.
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Medicine: In Malaysia and India, a mixture of pounded kernels and seed oil is used for poulticing wounds. The seed-oil is used for treating itch and other skin eruptions, dandruff and against rheumatism. Flowers of M. ferrea exhibit antibacterial activity.
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Ornamental: M. ferrrea is an attractive lawn tree with a regular, conical, bushy crown, vivid green leaves and showy, fragrant flowers. It is commonly grown along roadsides and in parks.
