Mallotus tetracoccus

Mallotus tetracoccus

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division    : Angiospermae 
Class       : Dicotyledons
Order       : Malpighiales
Family      : Euphorbiaceae
Genus       : Mallotus
Species     : tetracoccus

Common Name:

Rusty Kamala , Uppale Mara, Vatta, Vattakumbil.

General Information:

Mallotus tetracoccus is a dioecious tree which usually attains height of 20 m high, bark 5-8 mm thick, and surface grey, smooth, fibrous; blaze concentrically striate, pinkish-yellow, inner surface slimy; branchlets grey tawny tomentose; young parts covered with rusty lepidote scales. The leaves of these tress are simple, alternate; stipules lateral, deciduous; petiole 45-100 mm long, stout, swollen at base, with 2 large glands at the top, stellate tomentose; lamina 9-21 x 7.5-20 cm, orbicular or deltoid-ovate, base truncate, peltate, subcordate or round, apex acuminate, margin entire or glandular dentate, glabrous above and tomentose below when matured; coriaceous; usually 5-ribbed from base; lateral nerves 6-8 pairs, pinnate, prominent, intercostae scalariform, prominent.
Flowers unisexual, yellow, in terminal branching tomentose spicate panicles; male flowers: 7 mm across, tepals 4, 2 mm, ovate; stamens many, crowed on a fleshy receptacle; filaments to 3 mm; anther cells unequal; female flowers: 5 mm across, tepals 4, 2 mm, connate at base; ovary superior, 0.8 x 0.7 cm, 3-4 locular, densely stellate hairy, ovule one in each cell; style 3 mm, 3, plumose; stigma acute. Fruit a capsule 7-8 mm across, globose, loculicidal 3-4 valved, echinate with soft, woolly spines, white-tomentose; seeds angular, black.

Economic Importance:

  • The plant is known for many Ayurvedic medicinal purposes. The bark extract of this plant was said to possess significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, which suggests its use in traditional medicine.
  • Bark and gum of the tree is used for treating fractures and venereal diseases .