Kailaspati : A tree with magnificent features
Kailashpati is a sacred tree in India.
The name ‘Kailashpati’ represents the resemblance of inner flower with shivalinga, whereas the name ‘Canonball tree’ represents resemblance of fruit with canon ball.
Kailashpati tree is planted in gardens because the flowers, arranged on long stalks projecting from the trunk, are large, beautiful, pleasantly aromatic, and unlike any other flower a newcomer to the tropics has ever seen.
Even the fruits are a botanical curiosity because they mimic the shape and size of cannon balls, but, in contrast to the flowers, they release a fetid aroma at maturity when they hit the ground and break open.
It is listed as rare tree and flower in India.
Flower of Kailashpati has six petals. Reddish inside and yellowish outside. Tremendously aromatic and smell can be felt strongly in near-by area.
Inside structure is horizontal “U” shape. This inner structure is the reason it is offered to Lord Shiva and hence name in Marathi, as some thinks.
This Brazilian native takes its English name due to characteristic canon-ball like shape of its fruits. Fruits have rusty colored hard shell and are heavy.
The Cannonball Tree possesses antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic and analgesic qualities and hence used for medical purpose.
The scientific community has validated the following medicinal properties of the tree:
- Indian researchers found antidepressant qualities in the tree’s methanolic extracts.
- Cannonball tree extracts have antibacterial activity against pathogens such as E. coli, Bacillus and Staphyloccous. Fruit extracts also possess antimicrobial activity.
- Researchers in Tamil Nadu found that the flower extracts showed potent anthelmintic (antiworm and antiparasite) activities.
- According to the work conducted by Brazilian researchers, the tree’s leaves act as pain-numbing agent.
- Some cannonball tree extracts were patented based on their potential to protect skin from UV damage, keep hair and skin healthy, and ward off signs of ageing.