Common Name:

General Information

Litsea monopetala is an evergreen tree growing from 5 - 20 metres tall. The bole that can be straight or crooked and is up to 60cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and for its oil-rich seed and its timber, which are used commercially[].
Litsea monopetala is threatened on a local level by deforestation and habitat destruction through conversion to agriculture and habitat degradation. However, the species is widespread and abundant, and also occurs in several protected areas and so is not considered threatened on a global level.The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Thickets or sparse forests on sunny slopes at elevations up to 1,500 metres, but mostly found on hills at low elevations[]. Mixed lowland and montane evergreen or semi-deciduous forest[]. It is often found near streams[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, able to succeed at elevations up to 1,500 metres[].


The leaves have a cinnamon-like smell when bruised[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Litsea monopetala is a popular medicine in India, its medicinal properties being very similar to those of the better-known, and more largely employed, Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob., the venacular names for which also strongly resemble and are sometimes identical with those of this species[].

The bark is mildly astringent, and has a considerable degree of balsamic sweetness. It is used by the hill people in the cure of diarrhoea[]. Together with the bark of Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob., it is an officinal medication, being considered stimulant and, after being bruised, it is applied fresh or dry to contusions, and sometimes also mixed with milk and made into a plaster[]. The powdered bark is applied to the body as a remedy for pains arising from blows or bruises, or from hard work; it is also applied to fractures in animals[, ].

The leaves are used as a topical medicine for the treatment of arthritis, and for treating fractures and dislocations[, , ].

The oil from the seed is used medicinally in India[, ].

Other Uses

The seed contains around 30% oil which is used for industrial purposes[, ].

An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

The olive-grey wood is soft, not durable, and is readily attacked by insects[, ]. Itis used for furniture, planks and tool handles[, , ]. It is used as medang, e.g. for planks and tool handles[].

Propagation

Seed -

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