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SriWild. Sri Lanka's wildlife encyclopedia

Kamala

Mallotus philippensis

Least concern

Kamala
Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen · Public domain

Overview

Mallotus philippensis is a plant in the spurge family. It is known as the kamala tree or red kamala or kumkum tree, due to the fruit covering, which produces a red dye. However, it must be distinguished from kamala meaning "lotus" in many Indian languages, an unrelated plant, flower, and sometimes metonymic spiritual or artistic concept. Mallotus philippensis has many other local names. This kamala often appears in rainforest margins. Or in disturbed areas free from fire, in moderate to high rainfall areas.

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia (EN): Mallotus philippensis — CC BY-SA 4.0