Kokoona zeylanica

Taxobox


status = | status_system =
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Celastrales
familia = Celastraceae
genus = "Kokoona"
species = "K. zeylanica"
binomial = "Kokoona zeylanica"
binomial_authority = Thwaites
synonyms =

"Kokoona zeylanica", known in Sinhala as Kokun is a species of plant in the Celastraceae family. The genus is classified in the family Hippocrateaceae by some authorities.cite web |url=http://bodd.cf.ac.uk/BotDermFolder/BotDermC/CELA.html |title="CELASTRACEAE (Spindle-Tree family)" |accessdate= |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth=28 July |accessyear=2008 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=Botanical Dermatalogy Database |publisher= University of Cardiff|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is extant at Adam's Peak [cite news |first= S.|last= Duraisamy |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Man feels the pinch for ‘kokum’ bark offence|url= http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/07/28/news15.asp|work= Daily News |publisher= |date=28 July 2008 |accessdate=28 July 2008] and at Kanneliya.cite web |url=http://genebank.rda.go.kr/asiamediplants/home/doc3_1_view.asp?seqno=962 |title="Kokoona zeylanica" |accessdate= |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth=28 July |accessyear=2008 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=Asia Medicinal Plants Database |publisher= National Agrobiodiversity Centre|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

The species has been listed by the IUCN as threatened. [cite web |url=http://www.environmentlanka.com/biodiv/iucn_plant_list.htm |title=List of Threatened Plants according to IUCN Red Data Book (1999) |accessdate= |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth=28 July |accessyear=2008 |author= |last= Rajathewa |first= R A M P |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= Environment Sri Lanka|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Description

The "Kokun" is a large tree with a rough grey bark. It flowers from March to May.

Uses

The "Kokun" is a medicinal plant used as a treatment for snake bite, eye disease, acne and pimples, swollen joints, headache, skin diseases, Yaws ("parangi") and diabetes. [cite web |url=http://www.bioversityinternational.com/Publications/Pdf/944.pdf |title=Inventory, documentation and status of medicinal plants research in Sri Lanka |accessdate= |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth=28 July |accessyear=2008 |author= |last= Wijesundara |first= D S A |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=Medicinal Plants Research in Asia |publisher= International Plant Genetic Resources Institute|pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] The seed oil from this plant is effective as a leech repellant.

The inner bark has been used by jewellers as a polish.

References