Monoon longifolium, the false ashoka, also commonly known by its synonym Polyalthia longifolia, is an Asian small tree species in the family Annonaceae. It is native to southern India and Sri Lanka, but has been widely introduced elsewhere in tropical Asia.[1] This evergreen tree is known to grow over 20 m. in height and is commonly planted due to its effectiveness in alleviating noise pollution. It exhibits symmetrical pyramidal growth with willowy weeping pendulous branches and long narrow lanceolate leaves with undulate margins.
Monoon longifolium is sometimes incorrectly identified as the ashoka tree (Saraca indica) because of the close resemblance of both trees. It can appear to have no branches, but in fact a M. longifolium allowed to grow naturally (without trimming the branches out for decorative reasons) grows into a normal large tree giving plenty of shade.
Common names include false ashoka, the Buddha tree, Indian mast tree, and Indian fir tree. Its names in other languages include Ashoka in Sanskrit, Unboi (উনবৈ) or Debadaru (দেৱদাৰু)[citation needed] in Assamese, Debdaru in Bengali and Hindi,[citation needed]Asopalav (Gujarati), Glodogan tiang (Indonesian), Ashok in Marathi and Nettilinkam நெட்டிலிங்கம் in Tamil, and araNamaram: അരണമരം (Malayalam). ಕಂಬದ ಮರ Kambada mara in Kannada
In British India
The False ashoka was cultivated and gained popularity in British India for nostalgic reasons because it resembled the tall, harrow Italian cypress; it also was used for ships' masts. It does not require pruning in order to maintain its tall, straight, main trunk with short, drooping branches.
Distribution
Found natively in India and Sri Lanka. It is introduced in gardens in many tropical countries around the world. It is, for example, widely used in parts of Jakarta in Indonesia and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
Leaves
Emerging leaves have a coppery brown pigmentation; as the leaves grow older, the color becomes a light green and, finally, a dark green. The leaves are lanceolate and have wavy edges. The leaves are larval food plant of the tailed jay and the kite swallowtail butterflies.
In spring, the tree is covered with delicate star-like pale green flowers. The flowering period lasts for a short period, usually two to three weeks.
Fruit is borne in clusters of 10–20, initially green but turning purple or black when ripe. These are eaten by birds such as the Asian koel, Eudynamys scolopaceus, and fruit bats, including flying foxes.
Uses
The leaves are used for ornamental decoration during festivals. The tree is a focal point in gardens throughout India. The tree can be pruned into various shapes and maintained in required sizes. The flexible, straight and light-weight trunks were once used in the making of masts for sailing ships. Thus, the tree is also known as the Mast Tree. Today, its wood is mostly used for manufacturing small articles such as pencils, boxes, matchsticks, etc.[3] The oil of the seed has been confirmed to possess anti-oxidant, anti-lipooxygenase and antimicrobial (against various microbe strains) activities, among others.[4] Bankole et al 2016 find M. longifolium does control chloroquine resistant strains of Plasmodium berghei ANKA in mouse to some degree but is not an effective treatment.[5]
Methanolic extracts of Monoon longifolium have yielded 20 known and two new organic compounds, some of which show cytotoxic properties.[6] The fatty acid composition of the seed has also been reported [4]
References
^ abcPlants of the World Online (POWO): Monoon longifolium (Sonn.) B.Xue & R.M.K.Saunders (retrieved 30 August 2020)
^The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 6 January 2016
^"Polyalthia Longifolia The Mast Tree". The Lovely Plants.
monoon, longifolium, false, ashoka, also, commonly, known, synonym, polyalthia, longifolia, asian, small, tree, species, family, annonaceae, native, southern, india, lanka, been, widely, introduced, elsewhere, tropical, asia, this, evergreen, tree, known, grow. Monoon longifolium the false ashoka also commonly known by its synonym Polyalthia longifolia is an Asian small tree species in the family Annonaceae It is native to southern India and Sri Lanka but has been widely introduced elsewhere in tropical Asia 1 This evergreen tree is known to grow over 20 m in height and is commonly planted due to its effectiveness in alleviating noise pollution It exhibits symmetrical pyramidal growth with willowy weeping pendulous branches and long narrow lanceolate leaves with undulate margins Monoon longifoliumScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MagnoliidsOrder MagnolialesFamily AnnonaceaeSubfamily MalmeoideaeTribe MiliuseaeGenus MonoonSpecies M longifoliumBinomial nameMonoon longifoliumSonn B Xue amp R M K Saunders 1 Synonyms 1 2 Polyalthia longifolia Sonn Thwaites Guatteria longifolia Sonn Wall Unona longifolia Sonn Dunal Uvaria altissima Pennant nom illeg Uvaria longifolia Sonn Seeds and fruit of M longifolium M longifolium var pendula leaves Monoon longifolium is sometimes incorrectly identified as the ashoka tree Saraca indica because of the close resemblance of both trees It can appear to have no branches but in fact a M longifolium allowed to grow naturally without trimming the branches out for decorative reasons grows into a normal large tree giving plenty of shade Contents 1 Common names 1 1 In British India 2 Distribution 3 Leaves 4 Flowering 5 Uses 6 ReferencesCommon names EditCommon names include false ashoka the Buddha tree Indian mast tree and Indian fir tree Its names in other languages include Ashoka in Sanskrit Unboi উনব or Debadaru দ ৱদ ৰ citation needed in Assamese Debdaru in Bengali and Hindi citation needed Asopalav Gujarati Glodogan tiang Indonesian Ashok in Marathi and Nettilinkam ந ட ட ல ங கம in Tamil and araNamaram അരണമര Malayalam ಕ ಬದ ಮರ Kambada mara in Kannada In British India Edit The False ashoka was cultivated and gained popularity in British India for nostalgic reasons because it resembled the tall harrow Italian cypress it also was used for ships masts It does not require pruning in order to maintain its tall straight main trunk with short drooping branches Distribution EditFound natively in India and Sri Lanka It is introduced in gardens in many tropical countries around the world It is for example widely used in parts of Jakarta in Indonesia and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago Leaves EditEmerging leaves have a coppery brown pigmentation as the leaves grow older the color becomes a light green and finally a dark green The leaves are lanceolate and have wavy edges The leaves are larval food plant of the tailed jay and the kite swallowtail butterflies Flowering Edit Close up flowers in Hyderabad India In spring the tree is covered with delicate star like pale green flowers The flowering period lasts for a short period usually two to three weeks Fruit is borne in clusters of 10 20 initially green but turning purple or black when ripe These are eaten by birds such as the Asian koel Eudynamys scolopaceus and fruit bats including flying foxes Uses EditThe leaves are used for ornamental decoration during festivals The tree is a focal point in gardens throughout India The tree can be pruned into various shapes and maintained in required sizes The flexible straight and light weight trunks were once used in the making of masts for sailing ships Thus the tree is also known as the Mast Tree Today its wood is mostly used for manufacturing small articles such as pencils boxes matchsticks etc 3 The oil of the seed has been confirmed to possess anti oxidant anti lipooxygenase and antimicrobial against various microbe strains activities among others 4 Bankole et al 2016 find M longifolium does control chloroquine resistant strains of Plasmodium berghei ANKA in mouse to some degree but is not an effective treatment 5 Methanolic extracts of Monoon longifolium have yielded 20 known and two new organic compounds some of which show cytotoxic properties 6 The fatty acid composition of the seed has also been reported 4 References Edit a b c Plants of the World Online POWO Monoon longifolium Sonn B Xue amp R M K Saunders retrieved 30 August 2020 The Plant List A Working List of All Plant Species retrieved 6 January 2016 Polyalthia Longifolia The Mast Tree The Lovely Plants a b Atolani O Areh E T Oguntoye O S et al 2019 https link springer com article 10 1007 s00044 019 02301 z Dkhil Mohamed A Al Quraishy Saleh Al Shaebi Esam M Abdel Gaber Rewaida Thagfan Felwa Abdullah Qasem Mahmood A A 2021 Medicinal plants as a fight against murine blood stage malaria Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Saudi Biological Society Elsevier 28 3 1723 1738 doi 10 1016 j sjbs 2020 12 014 ISSN 1319 562X Chen Chung Yi Fang Rong Chang Yao Ching Shih Tian Jye Hsieh Yi Chen Chia Huang Yi Tseng Hua Chien Chen Shu Jen Chen Ming Chu Hsu Yang Chang Wu 2000 Cytotoxic Constituents of Polyalthia longifolia var pendula Journal of Natural Products 63 11 1475 1478 doi 10 1021 np000176e PMID 11087586 S0163 3864 00 00176 2 Retrieved 2007 09 21 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monoon longifolium amp oldid 1122731450, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
