Hosta

Persea macrantha, the large-flowered bay tree,^[1] 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 (98 ft). 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.^[2] Flowers show terminal panicle inflorescence. Fruit is a berry which becomes blackish on ripening.^[3]

The plant is known to have medicinal properties and used in Ayurveda.^{[4][unreliable source?]}

Common names

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

References