Gordonia ceylanica

Gordonia ceylanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Theaceae
Genus: Gordonia
Species: G. ceylanica
Binomial name
Gordonia ceylanica
Wight

Gordonia ceylanica is a species of plant in the Theaceae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Leaves

oblong to lanceolate, acute to rounded ends, margins entire to rolled down, beneath paler and veinless.

Trunk

Wood - red, smooth, hard; young shoots silky pubescent.

Flowers

white, large, axillary, solitary.

Fruits

capsule, persistent sepals; seeds flattened,pale brown.

Ecoogy

montane forest canopy.

Uses

Wood - furniture; ornamental. Whole plant - medicinal

Culture

It is known as "සුදු මිහිරිය - sudu mihiriya" in Sinhala.

Chemical constituents

The plant contains the oleanane-type triterpenoids 3beta-acetoxy-11alpha(2',3'-epoxyferulyloxy)-olean-13(18)-ene and α-spinasterol.[1]

References

  1. Herath HM, Athukoralage PS, Jamie JF (2001). "A new oleanane triterpenoid from Gordonia ceylanica". Nat Prod Lett. 15 (5): 339–344. doi:10.1080/10575630108041301. PMID 11841118.

Additional sources