Ceylon Iron Wood

Manilkara hexandra

Name

Marathi: खिरणी

Biological Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Spermatophyta
Sub-Division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Sub-Class: Gamopetalae
Series: Heteromerae
Order: Ebenales
Family: Sapotaceae
Sub-Family: --
Genus: Manilkara
Species: hexandra

Advantages

  • The wood of this tree is hard and tough, used for making sugar-mills, oil-presses and excellent for turning.
  • The fruits of this tree are edible.

Interesting Facts

  • The genus name "Manilkara" comes from a local Malayalam word "manil-kara".
  • The specific name denotes the presence of 6 stamens (Hexa - Six, andra - Stamens, which is the male reproductive part of the flower).

Description

  • It is a large, evergreen, slow-growing tree.
  • The flowering season is from September-November.
  • Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard.