ကံကော်

Myanmar Name – Gangaw

Common Name – Ceylon Iron wood, Iron wood of Assam

Botanical Name – Mesua ferrea L.

Family Name – Hypericaceae

Habitat – Tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. It can be found in various countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar,Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. It typically grows in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, often in hilly or mountainous regions.

Habit – Evergreen tree that can reach heights of up to 30 meters. It has a straight and tall trunk with a dense crown of leaves.DBH ranging from 30 centimeters (approximately 12 inches) to 100 centimeters (approximately 39 inches) or more.

Bark – Grayish-brown, smooth, and thin.

Leaves – Simple, opposite, lanceolate-ovate, margins entire, apex acute, leathery, coriaceous, shining above and lance-shaped. They are dark green and glossy, measuring about 5-15 centimeters in length. The leaves have a prominent midrib.

Inflorescence – Flowers bisexual, solitary flowers that are typically axillary pedicel short or sessile, sepals 4, imbricate.

Flower – A cup-shaped structure with four to five petals. The petals are usually white or pale yellow and measure 2-4 centimeters in diameter. The flowers have numerous stamens with prominent yellow anthers.

Fruit & Seed– Typically has a greenish to brown color, a woody capsule that is typically 2-3 centimeters in diameter. Small Seeds 1-4.

Flowering and Fruiting Time – Flowering time from April to June and Fruiting time July to October.

Usage – Used for carts, baskets bridges, Railway sleeper blocks well to frame the gun home Buildings cart axle, and cart yokes.