Muntingia calabura L.
| Kannada Name : | Gasagase hannina mara |
| Common Name : | Buah Cherry tree |
| Family Name : | Muntingiaceae |
| Scientific Name : | Muntingia calabura |
| Species Type : | Exotic |
| Phenology : | Evergreen |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | July - October |
| Fruiting Period : | July - October |
| Origin : | Mexico, Bolivia |
Uses
Its soft wood used for rural construction, while the bark is fibrous and used for making ropes. Traditional medicinal uses have been reported for the leaves (headaches, prostate problems, reduce gastric ulcers), bark (antiseptic), flowers (antiseptic, reduce swelling, antispasmodic), and fruits (respiratory problems; antidiarrheic).
Description
Shrub or small evergreen tree, 2-12 m tall with spreading branches. Young branches densely tomentose. Leaves simple, alternate, oblong or lanceolate, pubescent, base inequilateral, apex acuminate, margin irregularly serrate. Inflorescence a supra-axillary 2 to 3 flowerd fascicle or solitary. Flowers bisexual, white. Fruit a subglobose berry, ca. 1 cm in diameter, slightly glabrous, yellowish to red when ripe, seeds numerous.
