Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.
| Kannada Name : | Hole daasavaala, Chella |
| Common Name : | Queen's crepe mrytle |
| Family Name : | Lythraceae |
| Scientific Name : | Lagerstroemia speciosa |
| Species Type : | Indigenous |
| Phenology : | Deciduous |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | April - June |
| Fruiting Period : | July - August |
| Origin : | Indian Subcontinent, Southern China, Indochina, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia. |
Uses
It is a medicinal tree traditionally used to lower blood sugar in the body. Its high content of corosolic acid makes it an effective anti-diabetic drug. It is also recommended for kidney, bladder problems and hypertension. A decoction of the bark is used against diarrhoea and abdominal pains. A leaf poultice is used to relief malarial fever and is applied on cracked feet
Description
It is a medium sized, semi-deciduous tree with a flaky bark, 7-18 m tall. Leaves simple, opposite or subopposite, elliptic, oblong-elliptic to ovate, glabrous, base obtuse or acute, apex acuminate, margin entire. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, 20 ‐ 40 cm long. Flower bisexual, muave or pink. Fruit a woody capsule, 4-6 valved. Seeds many, winged.
