Common Name: Mesua

General Information

Mesua ferrea is a slow-growing, evergreen tree with a regular, dense, conical crown; it can grow from 30 - 45 metres tall[]. The bole is cylindrical to poorly shaped, up to 95cm in diameter, often fluted or buttressed at the base[, ]. The tree exudes an aromatic white resin when it is wounded[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is very hard and considered to be the hardest wood in Vietnam[]. A sacred tree in India, where it is harvested in large quantity and traded for its medicinal uses, the plant is also harvested from the wild for its oil-rich seed and aromatic flowers. Because of its slow growth rate, mesua is not suitable as a plantation tree for timber production, however, it is an attractive lawn tree with vivid green leaves and showy, fragrant flowers[]. It is commonly grown along roadsides and in parks[].

Known Hazards

There is some concern about the safety of the flowers. In laboratory tests extracts of the flowers terminated the pregnancy or resulted in lack of implantation in rats[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - India, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Canopy tree in lowland evergreen forest on level or undulating land, usually along streams but also on ridges with shallow soils, sea-level up to 500 metres[]. Also an understorey tree in montane evergreen or semi-evergreen forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet tropics, where it is found at elevations from 60 - 1,500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 35°c, but can tolerate 4 - 45°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 5,100mm[].
Young plants are quire shade tolerant, but gradually become more light-demanding as they grow larger[]. Requires a fairly rich, well drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.5, tolerating 4.3 - 6.9[].
The tree grows very slowly and is not popular for plantations[].
The plant starts producing fertile seeds when it is about 15 - 20 years old[].
Its logs sink in water and should be either rafted to lighter logs or transported by road[].
Endomycorrhizal associations, which fix atmospheric nitrogen, are reported in this species[].

Edible Uses

The seeds, known as 'surli nuts' are edible[]. They need to be well-cooked[]. They contain up to 76% oil[].

The fruit is wrinkled when ripe, resembling a chestnut (Castanea spp) in size, shape and taste[].

Young leaves - raw[]. A sourish, astringent flavour[].

Medicinal

A mixture of pounded kernels and seed oil is used for poulticing wounds[].
The seed-oil is used for treating itch, scabies and other skin eruptions, dandruff and rheumatism[, ].

The fruit is alterative and stimulant[]. A paste of the fruit is applied to boils[].

The flowers are astringent and stomachic[]. A paste made from the flowers is used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery[]. A decoction of the flowers is drunk by women after childbirth[].
Qurs-e-Habis is a traditional medicine consisting of the stamens of this plant combined with the seeds of Wrightia tinctoria and the shells of pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera)[]. It is used as a haemostatic, antidysenteric and antidiarrhoeal[].

Research has shown that the flowers exhibit antibacterial activity[].
In laboratory tests, extracts of the flowers terminated the pregnancy or resulted in lack of implantation in rats[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree gives a dense shade and is an important shade provider in its distribution range[]. It is considered suitable for underplanting in teak plantations[].

Other Uses

The seeds yield up to 79% of a yellowish oil, which is inedible but is used industrially[, ]. The oil contains linoleic, oleic, stearic, and arachidic acids[]. It is used as a fuel for lighting[].

The flowers are used in dyeing for fixed colours[].

The fragrant flowers are used to stuff pillows and cushions and are also an ingredient of cosmetic products[].

The heartwood is reddish-brown with a purple tinge when fresh, becoming dark red-brown upon exposure[]. The wood is moderately durable; resistant to termites and insects; heavy and very hard, often blunting saws[]. The wood is used for heavy construction (posts, beams, rafters, joists, columns) and heavy duty flooring and furniture[]. It is also used for joinery, cabinet work, tool handles, agricultural implements, vehicles and boat building[].
Used as firewood[].

Propagation

Seed - easy to handle in the nursery with a germination that is good and rapid[]. Seedling germination is hypogeal. Germination rates are in the 30 - 70% range, however, record germination rates of 75 - 90% in 11 - 24 days have been achieved[]. The seed loses its viability quickly, within 2 - 3 months[]. Container raised seedlings are the best planting stock and should be planted preferably in fairly rich and well drained sites under suitable shade[]. Seedlings are planted in the field after one year when they are about 30 cm tall or after 2 years when they are about 75 cm tall[].
Vegetative propagation by means of cuttings is not promising[].

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