Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Laurales

Family: Lauraceae

Genus: Listea

Natural Occurrence

It is found in the regions from the terai to 1450m in the Shorea robusta forest and tropical evergreen forest in Nepal. It grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Morphological Characteristics

Leaf: Leaves are alternate, oval, or elliptic in shape, and leathery.Top surface: Dark green and smooth. Lower surface Rust color covered with hairs.

Flower: Flowers appear in May, white or pale yellow in color, umbels.

Fruit: Fruit ripens between June &July, which turns black.

Bark: Bark is dark grey or light brown, smooth, but slightly furrowed with age.

Seed: The seed contains around 30% oil which is used for industrial purposes[

Tree nature: It is a medium-sized evergreen tree. It is a tree with a flat, spreading Umbrella like a crown

Associates: It is commonly found in the sal forest.

Uses

·         Leaves are used as excellent fodder.

·         The barks yield a fiber used in making ropes.

·         It bears edible fruits.

·         The immature fruit is used to treat constipation.

·         The wood is used for agriculture and implementation.

·         The wood is used for furniture.