,r\/*> - National Science Foundation

39. DILLENIACEAE
1. Dillenia indica Linn. Sp. PI. 535, 1753. (Fig. 182).
Dillenia speciosa Thunb.— Dillenia elliptica Thunb.
Sinh. Hondapara, Wampara; Tarn Akku, Ugakkay, Uva. Uvav. Uvatleku: Hindi
Chalia, Girnar; Sans. Bharva. Bharvya, Ruvya.
A moderate-sized, round-headed tree with a cinnamon-brown bark; leaves very large,
closely placed, 25—30 cm long, 10—13 cm broad, oblong-lanceolate, acute, sharply serrate,
glabrous above, finely pubescent on veins beneath, lateral veins numerous, parallel, strong:
petioles 3.5—5 cm long, deeply channelled above, pubescent outside, pulvinate at base, adnate
to stipules forming a sheath; flowers regular, bisexual, very large, 15—17.5 cm diameter,
solitary, white with yellow stamens on stout subterminal pedicels, bracteoles 6 cm long, 1.8 cm
broad, lanceolate; sepals 5, free, imbricate, very fleshy, persistent, subsequently enlarging to
enclose the fruit; petals 5, free, orbicular with a broad base; stamens very numerous in many
scries, persistent, innate, anthers opening by small pores at the apex; ovary superior consisting
of 15—20 free carpels, coherent at the axis, styles white, free and spreading, fruit enclosed by
greatly enlarged, thickened and imbricate sepals, the whole fruit forming a large, green globose
berry, 12- 15 cm in diameter; the real fruit inside 6.3 cm diameter, indehiscent; seeds
numerous compressed with a hairy margin.
Flowers from June to August.
Illustrations. Wight, Ic. PL Ind. Orient., pi. 832. 1843—1845; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian
Med. Plants, pi. 24. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya, drawing.
Distribution. Grows in the Indian and Malayan Peninsulas in the tropical forests
extending from Nepal to Singapore. It is commonly planted in the low-country in Ceylon.
India. Bengal: Wallich 943. Ceylon. Central Prov., Haragama, Thwaites CP. 2961.
Aug. 1853
Uses. The leaves and bark are astringent. The juice of the fruit which is slightly laxative
is used as a cooling beverage in fevers and as a cough mixture. Externally, it is used for fomentation
of swellings in joints recovering from dislocations. Malays eat the fruit and the pulp is
used as a hair wash.
171