Gardenia resinifera

• Botanical Name : Gardenia resinifera Roth
• Synonyms : Gardenia lucida Roxb.
• Common Name : King of the Day, Dikamali, Malan, Brilliant Gardenia, Cambi Resin Tree, White Emetic Nut
• Plant Family : Rubiaceae
• Plant Form : Tree
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 12, 18, 22
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Gardenia resinifera Plant :

• Habit : A small deciduous tree.
• Leaves : Elliptic-oblong, obtuse, narrowed into the petiole at the base, dark green above, paler beneath, stipules axillary, large, ovate, acute.
• Inflorescence : Solitary axillary.
• Flowers :
  • Large, white, turning to yellow when old, fragrant.
  • Calyx 5-lobed, Corolla tube long, slender, lobes 5, obovate, obtuse, spreading, veined.
  • Stamens 5, anthers sessile.
  • Ovary with 2, parietal placentas, stigma entire.
• Fruit : Ellipsoid, crowned with the calyx lobes.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : July - September
• Significance :
  • Cultivated in the gardens for its very fragrant white flowers open in the evening, soon turn from white to yellow.
  • The gum-resin in called "Dikamali" which is hot, pungent, increases appetite, relieves pain of bowels and bronchitis.
  • Used in constipation also hysteria, flatulent dyspepsia due to teething in children.