Gardenia coronaria Buch.-Ham.

Family: Rubiaceae

Synonym: Gardenia costata Roxb.                        

Bengali/Vernacular name: Bankamal, Sitagach, Ankamal, Kamol, Dakudum, Botta, Koinar, Bata, Targular, Bela, Koniara, Connari, Koniara, Painna phul, Rangkhai phul (Bengali); Kannyari (Chittagong).

Tribal name: Rageshful (Chakma), Kichingki (Khumi), Rang khu (Mogh), Pur chen (Murang), Molaihang (Pangkhoa).

English name: Malaysian tree gardenia.

Description of the Plant: A small to medium-sized but tall, deciduous tree, 7.6-9 m high. Leaves glabrous, stipulate, lamina obovate, obscurely crenate towards the apex, base attenuated, margin curved. Flowers solitary, fragrant, axillary, corolla white, tube 5-10 cm long. Fruits up to 2.5 cm long, ellipsoid, smooth between the ribs.

Plant parts Used: Leaf, bark, flower, fruit, and root.

Traditional Uses: Leaves of the plant are used for the treatment of rheumatic pain, and bronchitis.
Decoction of roots used for the treatment of flatulence, dyspepsia, and nervous disorders due to dentition.
Poultice of leaves is used to treat swollen breasts.
Decoction prepared from leaves and flowers of the plant is used for dyspepsia, flatulence, nervous disorder, and abdominal pain treatment.
Fruits are pulverized and applied to regions with furuncle, sprains, lymph node tuberculosis with water. 
Decoction of bark is used for menorrhagia, and uterine problems treatment.
Decoction made with stems and branches of the plant is used for intermittent fever, dysentery, and abdominal pain.

Distribution: This species is found in forests of Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, and Moulvi Bazar.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….