this is an email from Dr Santhosh Kumar I think it is Memecylon edule not M. umbellatum Santhosh
some information that I could glean from the net http://www.globinmed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79441:memecylon and from indiantreepix There are two ways to confirm the id: 1. If the inflorescence is more or less sessile (stalkless) and the fruits are ripening blue (pl check Mathew, 1983), then it is Memecylong umbellatum. In M. edule the umbels are long stalked and the fruits are yellowish. 2. When you taste the leaves of M. umbellatum they will be sweet first then slightly sour. This is due to the presence of good amount of starch in the leaves. And Dr. Mali observed that the hornbills feed on the leaves (especially the midrib portion) as they are energetic. The leaves of M. umbellatum are offered as 'prasadam' (like tulsi in temples) to the devotees by a saint (Shri Narayana Guru) who lives on the holy hill of Tiruvannamalai. The local names Kaya, Kayambu, Kayampoo are denoting Lord Krishna due to the color of flowers. -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "efloraofindia" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. > - With regards R. Vijayasankar National Center for Natural Products Research, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS-38677, USA.umbellatum > > -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
