Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Coscinium fenestratum

Syn. Menispermum fenestratum

IUCN Red List Data Deficient (DD)

Local name

  • Tree turmeric (English)
  • Jhaar-i-haldi (Hindi)
  • Darvi (Sanskrit)

Climber type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Menispermaceae

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Coscinium fenestratum bark

Bark

Stem woody, cylindrical, yellowish to grey-brown, with a characteristic yellow interior; older stems become thick and corky.

Coscinium fenestratum leaves

Leaves

Leaves 15-18 x 13-15 cm, ovate, apex acuminate, base truncate, 5-7 ribbed, deltoid; petiole 10-12 cm long.

Coscinium fenestratum flower

Flower

Inflorescence supra-axillary or cauliflorous. Female flowers mostly from old wood; sepals 6, sericeous; petals 3; ovary densely pilose, staminodes 6.

Coscinium fenestratum fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Fruit of 1or 2 drupes, to 2 cm dia, globose, brown villous, endocarp bony, peduncle to 12 cm; seed 1, black, glabrous.

Coscinium fenestratum

Did you know?

It was historically known in European commerce as “False Calumba.” Its yellow wood was reportedly used to adulterate or imitate true Calumba root (Jateorhiza palmata), an African medicinal plant formerly valued as a digestive tonic.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

S. India to W. Malesia