33. Uvaria narum, Wall.

The medicinal plant Uvaria narum is a member of the Annonaceae (custard apple) family. This page includes its habitat, botanical descption, medicinal uses (eg., Ayurveda), chemical constituents and history of use in modern and ancient India.

Index in Flora of British India (Hooker): 1. 50.

Vernacular:—Narum-panel (Malay). Rheede.

Habitat:—Forests of the Western Peninsula; and in the Central Provinces of India; Ceylon ascending to 4000 ft—Widely diffused in Southern India.

Botanical description:—A woody climber; twigs glabrous.

Leaves: 4-6 in., oblong, acuminate, very shortly stalked, glabrous.

Flowers: solitary, 1-1½ in. diam. Buds globose, stellate-tomentose.

Sepals: distinct, or nearly so, rounded, apiculate.

Petals: connate at base, broadly ovate, acute, incurved, densely pubescent.

Ripe carpels: very numerous, pendulous on slender stalks, 1 in. long, oblong—ovoid, 1-1½in., smooth, bright scarlet-crimson.

Colour of flowers: yellowish—green.

Part used: The root.

Medicinal uses:—The oil obtained from the roots by distillation, as well as the root, are used medicinally in various diseases. The root is fragrant and aromatic, and the bruised leaves smell like cinnamon. (Rheede).