Mesua ferrea, the Ceylon ironwood, or cobra saffron,[1] is a species in the familyCalophyllaceae. This slow-growing tree is named after the heaviness and hardness of its timber. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental due to its graceful shape, grayish-green foliage with a beautiful pink to red flush of drooping young leaves, and large, fragrant white flowers. It is native to wet, tropical parts of Sri Lanka, India, southern Nepal, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, the Philippines, Malaysia and Sumatra, where it grows in evergreen forests, especially in river valleys. In the eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats in India it grows up to altitudes of 1,500 m (4,900 ft), while in Sri Lanka up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[2][3][4] It is national tree of Sri Lanka, state tree of Mizoram and state flower of Tripura.[5]
Ceylon ironwood
Ceylon ironwood in Thelwatta, South-East Sri Lanka.
The tree can grow over 30 m (98 ft) tall, often buttressed at the base with a trunk up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter. The bark of younger trees has an ash grey color with flaky peelings, while of old trees the bark is dark ash-grey with a red-brown blaze. It has simple, opposite, narrow, oblong to lanceolate, blue-grey to dark green leaves that are 7–15 cm (2.8–5.9 in) long and 1.5–3.5 cm (0.59–1.38 in) wide, with a whitish underside. The emerging young leaves are red to yellowish pink and drooping. The branches are slender, terete and glabrous. The bisexual flowers are 4–7.5 cm (1.6–3.0 in) in diameter, with four white petals and a center of numerous orange yellow stamens. The fruit is an ovoid to globose capsule with one to two seeds.[2]
History of the tree in Sri Lanka
In the dry zone of Sri Lanka, where ironwood trees normally do not grow wild, large, old ironwood trees can be seen around the remains of ancient Buddhist monasteries on rocky hills around Dambulla such as Na Uyana Aranya, Namal Uyana, Na-golla Aranya, Pidurangala near Sigiriya, Kaludiya Pokuna near Kandalama, and Ritigala. They are probably the descendants of trees planted as ornamentals in the monasteries in ancient times during the Anuradhapura period. Older trees form suckers or shoots from the base of the trunk, which become new trees when the old trunk falls down; therefore the bases and roots of some ironwood trees in these sites might be very old.[6]
In Theravada Buddhism, this tree is said to have used as the tree for achieved enlightenment, or Bodhi by four Lord Buddhas called "Mangala - මංගල", "Sumana - සුමන", "Revatha - රේවත", and "Sobhitha - සෝභිත".
This is probably the tree mentioned by Joanna Baillie in her play The Bride: 'Of the strong Nahagaha pride of the wood', the name Nahagaha being translated as 'the iron tree'. This play is set in Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Uses
As the English name indicates, the wood of this tree is very heavy, hard and strong. The density is 940 to 1,195 kg/m3 (59 to 75 lb/ft3) at 15% moisture content. The colour is deep dark red. It is hard to saw and is mainly used for railroad ties and heavy structural timber.
In Sri Lanka the pillars of the 14th century Embekke Shrine near Kandy are made of iron tree wood.[7]
The flowers, leaves, seeds and roots are used as herbal medicines in India, Malaysia, etc.[2][1] and in Nag Champa incense sticks.
In eastern state of Assam, India, its seeds were also used for lighting purpose in evening for day to day purpose (while mustard oil for religious and health and culinary purposes) before the introduction of kerosene by the British.
Taxonomical status
Mesua ferrea is a complex species and has recently been split into several species and varieties.[2] A.J.G.H. Kostermans and Gunatilleke et al. call the tree described in this article Mesua nagassarium.[3][4] Kostermans lists several subspecies of Mesua nagassarium.[3]
These authors list Mesua ferrea as a separate species that is endemic to Sri Lanka and is a small, 15 meters high tree that grows near streams and in marshes in the Southwest of Sri Lanka, where it is called "Diya Na" in Sinhala, meaning "Water Na Tree". This "Diya Na" is not cultivated.[3][4] Gunatilleke et al. (p. 139), however, remark in a footnote: "In the most recent revision diya na is named as Mesua thwaitesii and na as Mesua ferrea".[4]
Kostermans and Gunatilleke et al. classify Mesua ferrea in the family Clusiaceae, while in the AgroForestryTree Database it is allocated to the Guttiferae.[3][4]
^ abcd. biotik.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
^ abcdeKostermans, A.J.G.H. (1980). "Clusiaceae (Guttiferae)". In Dassanayaka, M.D.; Fosberg, F.R. (eds.). A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. Vol. I. New Delhi. pp. 107–110.
^ abcdeAshton, M; Gunatilleke, S; de Zoysa, N; Dassanayake, MD; Gunatilleke, N; Wijesundera, S (1997). (PDF). Colombo. p. 140. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-06. Retrieved 2012-12-06.
^"State Symbols of Tripura | Tripura Tourism Development Corporation Ltd". tripuratourism.gov.in. Retrieved 2017-04-28.
^Nyanatusita, Bhikkhu. "Forest Monasteries and Meditation Centres in Sri Lanka".
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mesua ferrea.
Caldecott, Todd (2006). Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life. Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN0-7234-3410-7. Contains a detailed monograph on Mesua ferrea (Nagakeshara) as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice. Available online at
mesua, ferrea, ceylon, ironwood, cobra, saffron, species, family, calophyllaceae, this, slow, growing, tree, named, after, heaviness, hardness, timber, widely, cultivated, ornamental, graceful, shape, grayish, green, foliage, with, beautiful, pink, flush, droo. Mesua ferrea the Ceylon ironwood or cobra saffron 1 is a species in the family Calophyllaceae This slow growing tree is named after the heaviness and hardness of its timber It is widely cultivated as an ornamental due to its graceful shape grayish green foliage with a beautiful pink to red flush of drooping young leaves and large fragrant white flowers It is native to wet tropical parts of Sri Lanka India southern Nepal Burma Thailand Indochina the Philippines Malaysia and Sumatra where it grows in evergreen forests especially in river valleys In the eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats in India it grows up to altitudes of 1 500 m 4 900 ft while in Sri Lanka up to 1 000 m 3 300 ft 2 3 4 It is national tree of Sri Lanka state tree of Mizoram and state flower of Tripura 5 Ceylon ironwoodCeylon ironwood in Thelwatta South East Sri Lanka Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder MalpighialesFamily CalophyllaceaeGenus MesuaSpecies M ferreaBinomial nameMesua ferreaL SynonymsMesua coromandelina WightMesua nagassarium Burm f Kosterm Mesua pedunculata WightMesua roxburghii WightMesua sclerophylla Thw Mesua speciosa Choisy Mesua stylosa Contents 1 Description 2 History of the tree in Sri Lanka 3 Uses 4 Taxonomical status 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDescription Edit The tree can grow over 30 m 98 ft tall often buttressed at the base with a trunk up to 2 m 6 ft 7 in in diameter The bark of younger trees has an ash grey color with flaky peelings while of old trees the bark is dark ash grey with a red brown blaze It has simple opposite narrow oblong to lanceolate blue grey to dark green leaves that are 7 15 cm 2 8 5 9 in long and 1 5 3 5 cm 0 59 1 38 in wide with a whitish underside The emerging young leaves are red to yellowish pink and drooping The branches are slender terete and glabrous The bisexual flowers are 4 7 5 cm 1 6 3 0 in in diameter with four white petals and a center of numerous orange yellow stamens The fruit is an ovoid to globose capsule with one to two seeds 2 History of the tree in Sri Lanka EditIn the dry zone of Sri Lanka where ironwood trees normally do not grow wild large old ironwood trees can be seen around the remains of ancient Buddhist monasteries on rocky hills around Dambulla such as Na Uyana Aranya Namal Uyana Na golla Aranya Pidurangala near Sigiriya Kaludiya Pokuna near Kandalama and Ritigala They are probably the descendants of trees planted as ornamentals in the monasteries in ancient times during the Anuradhapura period Older trees form suckers or shoots from the base of the trunk which become new trees when the old trunk falls down therefore the bases and roots of some ironwood trees in these sites might be very old 6 In Theravada Buddhism this tree is said to have used as the tree for achieved enlightenment or Bodhi by four Lord Buddhas called Mangala ම ගල Sumana ස මන Revatha ර වත and Sobhitha ස භ ත This is probably the tree mentioned by Joanna Baillie in her play The Bride Of the strong Nahagaha pride of the wood the name Nahagaha being translated as the iron tree This play is set in Ceylon Sri Lanka Uses EditAs the English name indicates the wood of this tree is very heavy hard and strong The density is 940 to 1 195 kg m3 59 to 75 lb ft3 at 15 moisture content The colour is deep dark red It is hard to saw and is mainly used for railroad ties and heavy structural timber In Sri Lanka the pillars of the 14th century Embekke Shrine near Kandy are made of iron tree wood 7 The flowers leaves seeds and roots are used as herbal medicines in India Malaysia etc 2 1 and in Nag Champa incense sticks In eastern state of Assam India its seeds were also used for lighting purpose in evening for day to day purpose while mustard oil for religious and health and culinary purposes before the introduction of kerosene by the British Taxonomical status EditMesua ferrea is a complex species and has recently been split into several species and varieties 2 A J G H Kostermans and Gunatilleke et al call the tree described in this article Mesua nagassarium 3 4 Kostermans lists several subspecies of Mesua nagassarium 3 These authors list Mesua ferrea as a separate species that is endemic to Sri Lanka and is a small 15 meters high tree that grows near streams and in marshes in the Southwest of Sri Lanka where it is called Diya Na in Sinhala meaning Water Na Tree This Diya Na is not cultivated 3 4 Gunatilleke et al p 139 however remark in a footnote In the most recent revision diya na is named as Mesua thwaitesii and na as Mesua ferrea 4 Kostermans and Gunatilleke et al classify Mesua ferrea in the family Clusiaceae while in the AgroForestryTree Database it is allocated to the Guttiferae 3 4 Gallery Edit Mesua ferrea leaf used to sequence its genome Young leaves and flowers Young leaves and flowers Fruits in West Bengal India Young fruit Ripe fruitsSee also EditList of Indian timber trees Nagkesar seed oilReferences Edit a b Nag Kesar Flowers of India a b c d Mesua ferrea L Clusiaceae biotik org Archived from the original on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2012 12 06 a b c d e Kostermans A J G H 1980 Clusiaceae Guttiferae In Dassanayaka M D Fosberg F R eds A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon Vol I New Delhi pp 107 110 a b c d e Ashton M Gunatilleke S de Zoysa N Dassanayake MD Gunatilleke N Wijesundera S 1997 A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka PDF Colombo p 140 Archived from the original PDF on 2013 06 06 Retrieved 2012 12 06 State Symbols of Tripura Tripura Tourism Development Corporation Ltd tripuratourism gov in Retrieved 2017 04 28 Nyanatusita Bhikkhu Forest Monasteries and Meditation Centres in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Embekke External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mesua ferrea Caldecott Todd 2006 Ayurveda The Divine Science of Life Elsevier Mosby ISBN 0 7234 3410 7 Contains a detailed monograph on Mesua ferrea Nagakeshara as well as a discussion of health benefits and usage in clinical practice Available online at https web archive org web 20101229121750 http www toddcaldecott com index php herbs learning herbs 312 nagakeshara Sriracha College Mesua ferrea in Thai numerous photos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mesua ferrea amp oldid 1111287148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
