Mallotus resinosus

Mallotus resinosus, the resinous kamala ,[4] is a species of 12m tall shrub, evergreen plant in the family Euphorbiaceae.[3] It is native to India, Sri Lanka to New Guinea and Australia.[5] The plant is known as "கருவாளிச்சீ / karuvalichchi" by Tamil people.

Mallotus resinosus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Mallotus
Species:	M. resinosus
Binomial name
Mallotus resinosus (Blanco) Merr.
Synonyms[2][3]
List *Adelia resinosa Blanco *Axenfeldia intermedia Baill. *Claoxylon muricatum Wight *Coelodiscus muricatus (Wight) Gagnep. *Mallotus andamanicus Hook.f. *Mallotus aureopunctatus (Dalzell) Müll.Arg. *Mallotus beddomei Hook.f. *Mallotus dispar var. psiloneurus Müll.Arg. *Mallotus intermedius (Baill.) N.P.Balakr. *Mallotus lawii Müll.Arg. *Mallotus muricatus (Wight) Müll.Arg. *Mallotus muricatus var. walkerae (Hook.f.) Pax & K.Hoffm. *Mallotus resinosus var. muricatus (Wight) N.P.Balakr. & Chakrab. *Mallotus resinosus var. stenanthus (Müll.Arg.) Susila & N.P.Balakr. *Mallotus resinosus var. subramanyamii (J.L.Ellis) Chakrab. *Mallotus sanguirensis Pax & K.Hoffm. *Mallotus stenanthus Müll.Arg. *Mallotus subramanyamii J.L.Ellis *Mallotus viridis Welzen & Chayam. *Mallotus walkerae Hook.f. *Mallotus walkerae var. laxiflorus Hook.f. *Rottlera aureopunctata Dalzell *Rottlera muricata (Wight) Thwaites

Leaves

Elliptic to obovate; base attenuate; margin serrate.[6]

Flowers

Inflorescence - present, where male flowers are clustered and unbranched. Female flowers are also unbranched, but with 3 locules and few short spines.[7]

Fruits

globose seeded capsule.[8]

Chemistry

Scientists found a simple coumarin, called Scopoletin from the root extraction of resinous kamala. It was identified as the active principle responsible for DNA cleavage activity during the extraction process. The chemical was once thought that only found within plants of genus Scolopia[9]

References

1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Mallotus resinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T145823874A145823876. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T145823874A145823876.en. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
2. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-119063
3. "Mallotus resinosus (Blanco) Merr". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
4. http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Buckthorn-Leaved%20Kamala.html
5. http://www.biotik.org/india/species/m/mallrham/mallrham_en.html
6. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/263250
7. http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Resinous%20Kamala.html
8. http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Mallotus_resinosus.htm
9. Ma, J; Jones, S. H; Hecht, S. M (Sep 2004). "A coumarin from Mallotus resinosus that mediates DNA cleavage". J Nat Prod. 67 (9): 1614–6. doi:10.1021/np040129c. PMID 15387675.