Elaeocarpus serratus L.

Elaeocarpus serratus L.

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Dicotyledons
Order      : Oxalidales
Family     : Elaeocarpaceae
Genus      : Elaeocarpus
Species    : serratus

Common Name:

Ceylon olive, Rudraksham, Kaarakka or Kaara ,Belfoi

General Information:

Elaeocarpus serratus is a tropical flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae. It is found in the Indian Subcontinent, Indo-China and South East Asia. It is an ornamental medium-sized tree indigenous to Sri Lanka.Trees up to 18 m tall.Bark brownish, smooth; blaze orange red.Branchlets terete, glabrous, with scars of fallen leaves.Leaves simple, alternate, spiral, clustered at twig ends; stipules small, lanceolate, caducous; petiole 1.2-4 cm long, swollen at both ends, planoconvex, glabrous, with subulate appendage at the junction of lamina; lamina 5.5-12.5 x 2.5-5 cm, elliptic, apex acuminate with blunt tip, base acute, margin serrate, chartaceous, glabrous, red when senescent; midrib slightly raised above; secondary nerves 5-9 pairs, branched with glabrous domatia at axils beneath; tertiary nerves reticulo-percurrent; higher order reticulation slender, minute.Inflorescence racemes; flower petals white, laciniate, anthers ciliate.Fruit and SeedDrupe, oblong or ovoid to 2.5 cm long; seeds 3-4.

Economic Importance:

  • The fruits are high in starch and sugar and have low amounts of protein and iron.It may help treat diarrhoeadue to its constipating effect.
  • In Sri Lanka pickled Ceylon olives are eaten as popular street food.