''Mallotus philippensis'' is a plant in the

spurge family Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges, such as ''Euphorbia paralias'', are herbs, but some, e ...

. It is known as the kamala tree or red kamala or kumkum tree, due to the fruit covering, which produces a red dye. However, it must be distinguished from kamala meaning "lotus" in many Indian languages, an unrelated plant, flower, and sometimes metonymic spiritual or artistic concept. ''Mallotus philippensis'' has many other local names. This kamala often appears in rainforest margins. Or in disturbed areas free from fire, in moderate to high rainfall areas. It occurs in South Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as Afghanistan and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The southernmost limit of natural distribution is Mount Keira, south of

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

. The species name refers to the type specimen being collected in the Philippines, where it is known as ''banato''.

Description

A bush to small or medium-sized tree, up to 25 metres tall and a trunk diameter of 40 cm. The trunk is fluted and irregular at the base. The grey bark is smooth, or with occasional wrinkles or corky bumps. Small branches are greyish brown in colour, with rusty covered small hairs towards the end. Leaf scars evident. Leaves are opposite on the stem, ovate to oblong in shape. 4 to 12 cm long, 2 to 7 cm wide with a long pointed tip. The upper surface is green without hairs, the underside pale grey in colour. With a magnifying glass, small red glands may be visible. Leaf stems 2 to 5 cm long, somewhat thickened at both ends. The first leaf vein on either side of the mid rib extends from the leaf base, to over half the length of the leaf. Veins raised and evident under the leaf.

Flowers, fruit and regeneration

Yellow-brown flowers form on

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s. Racemes up to 6 cm long. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. New South Wales flowering period is from June to November. Flowering period in the Philippines is March to April. Fruit may appear at any time of the year, three months or so after flowering. Usually a three lobed capsule, 6 to 9 mm broad, covered in red powdery substance. This is soluble in alcohol, which produces a golden red dye suited to colouring of silk and wool. One small black globular seed in each of the three parts of the capsule, seeds 2 to 3 mm in diameter. Fresh seed is advised for germination. It is a moderately growing tree.

Uses

''Mallotus philippensis'' is used to produce yellow dye and herbal remedies. It produces rottlerin, a potent large conductance potassium channel opener.

Gallery

Image:Mallotus philipensis flowers.jpg, ''M. philipensis'' flowers Image:MallotesPhilipensis.jpg, Red coloured fruit of the kamala, Nandi hills slopes, Bangalore, India Image:Red Kamala Mount Keira.JPG, Red kamala at its most southerly point of natural distribution, Mount Keira, Illawarra,

Image:Black-crested Bulbul (Pycnonotus melanicterus) feeding on Kamala (Mallotus philipensis) at Jayanti, Duars, WB W Picture 133.jpg,

Black-crested bulbul The black-crested bulbul (''Rubigula flaviventris'') is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is found from the Indian subcontinent to southeast Asia. Taxonomy and systematics The black-crested bulbul was originally described in ...

feeding on the red kamala at Jayanti, India

References

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q2510557 philippensis Australasian realm flora Indomalayan realm flora Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Flora of Western Australia Flora of the Northern Territory Trees of Australia Malpighiales of Australia Flora of the Indian subcontinent Flora of Yemen Flora of China Flora of Japan Flora of Indo-China Flora of Malesia Plant dyes Trees of Nepal Plants described in 1786 Trees in Buddhism