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Mallotus tetracoccus, also known as the rusty kamala, is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae. It is a tree species found in parts of south Asia, typically occurring in the edges of tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
The species occurs in India (Northeast India and South India), Sri Lanka, Upper Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts), Thailand, and south-central China. Within the Western Ghats of India, it is distributed from the Konkan southwards in semi-evergreen to evergreen and shola forests, from the plains to about 1600 m elevation. It also occurs in peninsular hills such as the Shevaroy Hills and Kollimalai Hills of southern India in evergreen and secondary forests. In northern India, Brandis notes the species is distributed in the outer ranges and valleys of the Sikkim Himalaya ascending to 3,000 feet (914 m), common in second growth forest. In Sri Lanka, it is common in the moist low country.
The leaves are used in sericulture. The plant is known for its medicinal properties in Ayurvedic and in folk/traditional medicine. Bark and gum of the tree is used for treating fractures and venereal diseases. Also used as firewood in some parts.
Mallotus atrovirens · Green Kamala · Mallotus cumingii · White Kamala · Mallotus distans · Mallotus eriocarpus · Fig-leaved mallotus · Mallotus floribundus · Mallotus fuscescens · East Asian Mallotus · Mallotus korthalsii · Mallotus megadontus
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Mallotus tetracoccus by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
