Machilus macranthus


Machilus macranthus, the large-flowered bay tree, is an evergreen tree in the laurel family, native to India, Sri Lanka, the Himalayas, Myanmar, and western Yunnan in south-central China.
The tree grows in the Western Ghats mountain range of India, and can reach. Leaves are simple, alternate, spiral; lamina obovate or elliptic to elliptic-oblong; apex rounded or acuminate or acute; base acute to rounded with entire margin. Flowers show terminal panicle inflorescence. Fruit is a berry which becomes blackish on ripening.
The plant is known to have medicinal properties and used in Ayurveda.

Common names

  • Kannada - chittu thandri, gulamaavu, gulimaavu
  • Malayalam - kulamavu, ooravu
  • Marathi - gulaamba
  • Tamil - iruli, kolamavu, kolarmavu
  • Telugu - naara