Guest Tree is an evergreen, bushy tree growing up to 20 m high, with a
dense rounded crown and upright pink sprays of flowers and fruits. It grows
from 8 to 15 m in height. The leaves are broadly ovate, and 10-20 cm
long, with pointed tip, and heart-shaped base. The flowers are pink, about
8 mm long, and borne in panicles 20-40 cm long, terminating the branches.
The fruit is a thin-walled, inflated capsule about 2 cm long. The young
leaves are eaten as a green. The bast fiber is widely used for tying
bundles. It is also made into rope which is used for tethering carabaos and
horses, and for making halters. The rope is said to be durable during rainy
weather.
Medicinal uses: Guest Tree is used as a traditional medicine in
parts of Malaya, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to treat scabies. The bark
and leaves used as hairwash for lice, while the juice of the leaves are
used as an eyewash.
Identification credit: Dinesh Valke
Photographed in Maharashtra.
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The flower labeled Guest Tree is ...