Common name:- Champak
Vernacular name:- Salyo(Apatani)
Family:- Magnoliaceae
description
Magnolia champaca, known in English as champak, is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae. It was previously classified as Michelia champaca. It is known for its fragrant flowers, and its timber used in woodworking. It can grow 33m or more tall, with some specimens attaining 50m. It has a long straight bole that can be 18 - 21m long more and, under ordinary forest conditions, 80 - 120 cm in diameter. The tree has a wide range of uses, being harvested locally as a source of food, medicines and a range of commodities. It is particularly valued for its essential oil and timber, and is sometimes cultivated for these. The tree is also used in reforestation projects. Champaca is commonly cultivated as an ornamental and wayside tree throughout the tropics, being valued especially for its fragrant flowers, which are often used in religious ceremonies.
Cultivation_Details
A plant of the wet tropics and subtropics, also able to be grown in the warm temperate zone. It is found growing at elevations from near sea level to 2,100 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 37°c, but can tolerate 10 - 47°c.
Edible_Uses
Apatani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh most oftenly used this tree species(fruits) in their local jam called "pike-pila". Fruits is also used in beverage(wine), first introduced by Nara Aaba fusion with Kiwi fruit. The aromatic, bitter bark is sometimes used for the adulteration of cinnamon.
Medicinal_value
The bark is used as a febrifuge. A decoction of the bark and leaves is given after childbirth. The flowers are used to treat leprosy. The leaves are used as a treatment against colic. The seeds are used to treat badly chapped skin. Fatty oils extracted from the seeds show antibacterial activity against Bacillus pumilus, B. Subtilis, Salmonella typhosa, S. Paratyphi, Micrococcus pyogenes var. Albus and Staphylococcus aureus.
Other_Uses
The flowers yield an essential oil known as champa or champaca oil. It is used in perfumery. Another essential oil, known as Michelia leaf oil, is extracted from the leaves. The sweetly scented flowers are used in India for hair adornment. A yellow dye is obtained from the flowers. The tree is used to reforest badly eroded areas in Java Soil under tree cover shows an increase in pH, soil organic carbon and available phosphorus.
Note:- "Little learning is a dangerous thing" using of plant species as medicinal purpose by without asking from the expert is not advisable.
Reference
