Botanical Name: Lafoensia pacari
Family Lythraceae (Crape Myrtle family)
Synonyms None
Deciduous tree of South American origin.
The tree grows to a height of 8 m, the bark is seen with ridges and vertical fissures. Simple coriaceous leaf of about 6 cm are arranged in opposite. The leaf has a very small petiole. Leaf shape is obovate, margins entire and leaf apex mucronate. Inflorescence is racemous and terminal. Pedicel is 1.5 cm to 3 cm long, fragrant bell shaped flowers is seen. Flowers are Polypetalous, bisexual and actinomorphic and have whitish cream colored, caducous petals. About 8-16 crumpled petals and seen. Stamens : long 20-26 numbers. The fruit is dry and regularly dehiscent. Seeds are small sub-rectangular and winged.
Used as an ornamental tree in India (rarely seen). The tree is well researched for its various medicinal properties in South America.
Location: Kallar, Mettupalayam, Tamilnadu.
