Hi Here is one more confusing common name!
Mesua ferrea is well known as Nagkesar or Nagchapha. The plant is known as an important medicinal plants, particularly the flowers. However there is a spice used in many Indian recipes described as Nagkesar. This cannot be Mesua ferrea. This spice Nagkesar (used in Goda Masala of Maharashtrian recipes) looks like cloves and some describe it as flower buds (dry) of Cinnamom. Since one Nagkesar (Mesua ferrea) is used in Ayurvedic medicines and the other Nagkesar (Cinnamom?) as a spice in Indian recipes it is likely create confusion / problems during its usage. Some time ago a friend of mine bought Nagkesar (Cinnamom) and tried to use it as Ayurvedic medicine! Luckily a senior vaidya told him that it was not true Nagkesar (Mesua ferrea) and would not be effective. This needs clarification. Can someone throw more light on this? Ulhas
