Distinguishing characters
gland-dotted, coriaceous leaves with intramarginal vein, large number of stamens (may be due ti splitting), gland-tipped anther connectives, inferior ovary with axile or deeply intruded parietal placenta and seed testa modified to wings or membraneous or horny. A tropical family of 129 genera containing 4620 species.
Useful plants : Volatile oils, Fruits, Medicinals and Biopesticides
A. Volatile oils
1. Eucalyptus (Gk: eu = well; calyptos = cover alluding to sepals which form a lid over flowers in bud-500) various species of this genus provide volatile oils used in medicine, industries and in perfumery.
1a. Medicinal oils are obtained from the leaves of E. elaeophora, E. globulus, E. leucoxylon and E. sideroxylon. These oils contain 45-75 %. Cineole and the rest of α-pinene, limonene, etc. They are used as antiseptics, mosquito and vermin repellants and expectorants.
1b. Industrial oils are obtained from E. dives and E. amygdalina. They contain 60-80 % α- phellandrene and l-piperitone. They are used in mineral floatation and l-piperitone in the manufacture of synthetic thymol and menthol.
1c. Perfumery oils are obtained from E. Macarthuri and E. citriodora. The oils contain citronellal (50-80%) and citronellol. They are used as perfumes, in soaps and in cosmetics.
2. Syzygium (1000) This is another genus providing oils, medicines and fruits.
S. aromaticum Merr. & Perry (Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.) Clove.
The flower buds of this plant in the clove, of a famous spice of India. It yields 14-20 % volatile oil consisting of eugenol (70-90 %). Clove is used for flavouring foods and as a stomachic and carminative. Clove oil is a toothache remedy and is used in mouthwashes and tooth pastes. It is also used in medicines, perfumery and histological work and for the commercial production of vanillin.
3. Pimenta (pimiento=Spanish name) Bay oil and Allspice
P. racemosa Moore. yields a volatile oil (Bay oil) from
leaves consisting of eugenol (60-70 %) which is used in perfumes and in culinary preparations.
P. dioica Merr. is the Allspice of commerce. The leaves yield a volatile oil consisting of eugenol (65-80 %), cineole, eugenol methyl ether, etc. The leaves are used as a spice.
4. Melaleuca (GK, melos = black; leukos=white, due to black trunk and white shoots)
Melaleuca quinwuenervia -Niaouli oil
Niaouli Oil comes from the young leaves and twigs of Melaleuca quinquenervia, an evergreen tree or shrub from the Myrtaceae family that is native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the French Pacific Islands. Essential Oil is the camphoraceous essence obtained from the leaves and twigs. Known for its potent aroma, Niaouli is cooling and cleansing, reputed to help clear the airways and promote easier breathing, to focus the mind, and to balance the emotions when used in aromatherapy. The main chemical constituents of Niaouli Oil are 1,8-Cineole, α-Pinene, and Viridiflorol, all of which are known for their purifying properties.Traditionally, Niaouli Oil was used as an antiseptic to treat wounds, discourage infections, and sanitize spaces.
Fruits
1. Psidium guajava L. Guava , Amrud
This small tree with finely pubescent, ovate leaves and white fragrant flowers yields guava. The fruit is a berry having a greenish yellow slender skin and a creamish white/red flesh containing a number of small white seeds. The flesh is very aromatic, sweet and highly flavoured. It contains 11% carbohydrates, mostly in the form of glucose and fructose and 1% protein. Guava is one of the richest natural sources of vit. C, containing 5-10 times as much as the citrus fruits. Much of ascorbic acid, concentrated mostly in the skin and the pulp adhering it, is present as ascorbigen, a bound form. Of the total 0.5% acidity, citric acid forms the major component with a little tartaric and malic acids. Guava is a poor source of vit. A. The fruit is eaten fresh, canned or preserved. The leaves and bark, containing 8-27% tannins, are used in tanning leather.
2. Psidium cattleyanurn strawberry guava or cherry guava, is a small tree (2–6 m tall) with a fruit having a sweet acidic taste similar to that of strawberries. This fruit has thin skin that ranges from yellow to a dark red or purple, is ovular in shape, and grows to around 4 cm in length. The whole fruit can be eaten as both the thin skin and juicy interior are soft and tasty. It can also be used to make jam. The skin is often removed for a sweeter flavour. The seeds are small and white in colour. Its leaves may be brewed for tea.[26] The wood of the tree is hard, compact, durable, and resistant, and is used for lathe work, tool handles, charcoal, and firewood.
3. Syzygium cuminii Skeels(Eugenia jambolina Lam.) Jamun,
This is a large tree with a dark purple elliptic edible berry containing a globose seed, Common as a cultivated avenue tree or in forests of India , S.E.Asia and Australia.The edible pulp from fruits contain sugars, gallic acid, malic acid, tannins, glucosides of petunidin and malvidin and oleanolic acid. Seeds contain protein (8.5%),, tannins (19%) ellagic and gallic acids, and a glycoside, jamboline. The fruit, especially seeds, are extensively used against diabetes. Bark is used in dysentery. Also used in cough, asthma, dyspepsia and hemorrhages. Seed extract is used as a male contraceptive also.
.
4. Syzygium jambos Alston. yields the edible fruit Rose apple. The fruits are whitish-green, rose scented, about 5 cm long and ripen over an extended period. The edible fruit is shaped like a small pear. The flesh is a bit softer than that of an apple. It tastes like a cross between apple and watermelon, with a very mild rose scent and a slightly bitter aftertaste. In ancient Sanskrit, the land now called India was referred to by the ancient Indians themselves as Jambudvipa, which means Rose-apple-land (jambu = rose apple; dvipa = land). The dry, crisp fresh fruit is used to make jellies. Rose Apple is native to India, China and SE Asia.The fruit is attributed with antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory anticancer and hepatoprotectuve properties.
5. Plinia cauliflora, the Brazilian grapetree, jaboticaba or jabuticaba, Is the fruit of a tree in native to the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Goiás and São Paulo in Brazil.[3] The tree is known for its purplish-black, white-pulped fruits which grow directly on the trunk; they can be eaten raw or be used to make jellies, jams, juice or wine. The fruit is a thick-skinned berry and typically measures 3–4 cm in diameter. The fruit resembles a slip-skin grape. It has a thick, purple, astringent skin that encases a sweet, white or rosy pink gelatinous flesh. Embedded within the flesh are one to four large seeds, which vary in shape depending on the species.jabuticabas are largely eaten fresh.[22] Fruit may begin to ferment 3 to 4 days after harvest, so it is often used to make jams, tarts, strong wines, and liqueurs.
In Brazil, the fruit of several related species, namely Myrciaria tenella and Myrciaria trunciflora, share the same common name.[16Related species in the genus Myrciaria, often referred to by the same common names, are native to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia.[4]
6. Eugenia uniflora, the pitanga, Suriname cherry, Brazilian cherry, is, native to tropical South America’s east coast, The berries are ribbed 2 to 4 centimetres (0.79 to 1.57 in) long, starting out as green, then ranging through orange, scarlet and maroon as they ripen. The taste ranges from sweet to sour, depending on the cultivar and level of ripeness (the darker red to black range is quite sweet, while the green to orange range is strikingly tart). Its predominant food use is as a flavoring and base for jams and jellies. The fruit is high in vitamin C and a source of provitamin A.
B. Medicinal plants
1. Eucalyptus globulus Labill (Nilgiri, Eucalyptus)
E. globulus is a tall aromatic tree native to Australia and cultivated in many parts as a social forestry tree. The leaves yield a volatile oil (up to 1.5%) consisting of cineole (65-75%), caryophyllene, -pinene, limonene etc. The bark and wood contain polyphenols. Euglobals (acyl-phloroglucinol-monoterpene/sesquiterpene, 11 in number, such as euglobal 1a1,1a2,1b,1c,lla, llb, llc, lll- lX) form another group of compounds isolated from this plant. The essential oil is used as an expectorant and antiseptic. A gum resin from plant is used in diarrhoea. Euglobal III is a granulation-inhibiting agent.
2. Syzygium aromaticum Merr. & Perry (Eugenia caryophyllata Thaub., E. aromatica Bail.- Laving, Clove)
Cloves are the unopened flowers of a small, evergreen tree, native of the Molucca islands.
Cloves contain 14-20% volatile oil, 10-13% tannins, oleanolic acid, vanillin, and a chromeneeugenin. 70-90% of volatile oil is eugenol. Cloves are used for flavouring foods, as a stomachic and carminative in medicine. It is also found to heal stomach ulcers and inhibit the carcinogens by inducing the production of detoxifying agents such as glutathione S-transferase (Zheng et al., 1992). Clove oil is antiseptic and antispasmodic and is often an ingredient of toothpastes and mouthwashes. It is a toothache remedy. It also finds great use in medicines, perfumery, and histological work and for commercial production of vanillin.
C. Biopesticides
1. Eucalyptus ficifolia F. Muell (Red-flowering gum)
This native plant of Australia is found to yield ficifolidione, in the hexane extract of the
aerial parts. Ficifolidione, is (1′R,2′R,4R)-4-isobutyl- 6,6,8,8-tetramethyl-2,3,4,8-
tetrahydrochromene-5,7-dione-2-spiro-2′-6,6-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane and is a
moderately insecticidal compound.
2. Eucalyptus globulus Labill.
The oil has insecticidal properties against bedbugs, black beetles, flies, lice, and mosquitoes. Eucalyptus maculata essential oil is repellent to Anopheles gambiae and A. funestus and other fleas. Klingauf et al., (1983) obtained 100% mortality against the rose-grain aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum with Eucalyptus oil at doses of 31.4 μl/l air for 3 hours. The vapours of this oil strongly reduced fecundity, decreased egg hatchability and increased neonate larval mortality in the bean bruchid, Acanthoscelides obtectus. The oils from E. citriodora and Eucalyptus hybrid are found effective against the nematode, M. Incognita.
3. Eucalyptus resinifera Sm.(Red mahogany)
This is a large tree with a tall clean bole grown in Nilgiri and Shimla Hills. The methanolic extract containing monoterpene flavonol glycosides resinosides A & B, exhibited significant insect repellant activity against Blue Mussel Mytilus edulis.
4. Eucalyptus umbellata Domin. (E. tereticornis Sm.)
The leaf powder mixed with paddy (1% by wt.) is effective against the development of Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella and prevents cross infestation by the lesser grain borer, Rhizopertha dominica.
5. Kunzea ericoides Burgan
K. ericoides also is found to yield ficifolidione, in the hexane extract of the aerial parts which is a moderately insecticidal compound (Khambay, et al., 2003)
6. Melaleuca leucadendron Linn.(Myrtus leucadendron Linn.- Cajuput oil tree)
This is a large sized aromatic tree a native of Australia cultivated in India. The volatile oil obtained from leaves of terminal branches contains -terpeneol, l-apinene, l-limonene, sesquiterpenes, azulene, sesquiterpene alcohols, valeraldehyde and benzaldehyde. Fresh leaves on steam distillation yield cajuput oil, which is valued as a mosquito repellent and has the advantage over citronella oil in that it is less volatile. It is also effective against lice and fleas.
7. Pimenta racemosa Moore (Bay oil)
P. racemosa, a native of West Indies, is a small tree the leaves of which yield a clove-like volatile oil (1.5%), containing eugenol (60-70%), methyl eugenol, chavicol and pinene. Bay oil is an all purpose pesticide.
8. Syzygium aromaticum Merr. & Perry.
Clove is kept in granaries, bottles, boxes etc. which keeps the pests away. Eugenol attracts Japanese beetles and repels cats and dogs.
D. Natural Dyes
1. Syzygium cumini Skeels
The bark gives a red dye while the red fruit color may be used in foods and pharmaceuticals.
Other uses
Mallet bark, a source of tannin is E. occidentalis. The source of tannin is leaves and the amount is about 50 %.
Gum kino is obtained from many Australian species of Eucalyptus. E. camaldulensis is the source of red gum. Timber is obtainedfrom E. diversicolor (Karri) and E. marginata (Jarrah).
Ornamentals
Callistemon (Bottle brush), Brisbane box (tristania, Australian tea tree (Leptospermum) Lilly-Pilly (Acmena) and Myrtle (Myrtus communis),
Mammen Daniel
