Persea macrantha

Persea macrantha, the large-flowered bay tree, is an evergreen tree in the laurel family (Lauraceae), native to southwestern India and Sri Lanka.

The tree grows in the Western Ghats mountain range of India, and can reach 30 m. Leaves are simple, alternate, spiral; lamina obovate or elliptic to elliptic-oblong; apex rounded or acuminate or acute; base acute to rounded with entire margin. Flowers show terminal panicle inflorescence. Fruit is a berry which becomes blackish on ripening.

The plant is known to have medicinal properties and used in Ayurveda.

Common names

 * Kannada - chittu thandri, gulamaavu, gulimaavu
 * Malayalam - kulamavu, ooravu
 * Marathi - gulaamba
 * Tamil - iruli, kolamavu, kolarmavu
 * Telugu - naara