Digital Garden

Lagerstroemia speciosa

Jarul, crape Myrtle, Queen crape Myrtle

Scientific name- Lagerstroemia speciosa L. 

Common name- Jarul, crape Myrtle, Queen crape Myrtle 

Family- Lythraceae 

Habit type-Tree 

Distribution: 

Lagerstroemia speciosa commonly known as giant crepe-myrtle, Queen’s crepe-myrtle, banabá plant for Philippines, or pride of India is a species of Lythraceae family Lagerstroemia. The plant is native to temperate and tropical Asia including the Indian subcontinent, China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This species has been widely cultivated as ornamental and is now naturalized in tropical regions of Asia and Africa, Australia, Mexico, Central and South America, and the West Indies. 

Leaves 

The leaves, on a 0.5-1 cm long petiole, are simple, opposite or sub-opposite, oblong-elliptic with entire margin and acute or obtuse apex, 5-22 cm long and 4-10 cm broad, coriaceous, of intense bright green color above, paler below, that turn orange-red before falling. 

Bark 

Bark surface is smooth or with small papery flakes, grey to light fawn-brown mottled. Inner bark is fibrous, grey-fawn to yellow, turning dirty mauve or purple upon exposure. 

Flowers 

Flowers large, showy, mauve-purple, 5-7 cm across, pedicels pubescent, thickened upwards and articulated below the middle. 

Terminal panicle inflorescences are erect, 15-40 cm long, carrying numerous flowers, on a 1-1.5 cm long pedicel, of color varying from pale pink, to lavender, to purple pink, of 5-8 cm of diameter, lasting 2-3 days. 

The sepal is funnel or bell-shaped and 6(-9)-lobed. Petals are oblong-ovate or obovate, shortly clawed, and 3 to 3.5 cms long; the margins are undulate and hardly fimbriate. 

They are white to pink or purple, clawed and wrinkled. The stamens are many and in several rows. The ovary is superior, 3-6-locular with many ovules in each cell and with 1 style. 

Flowering normally takes place from April-June 

Fruit 

Fruit a capsule, ellipsoid or subglobose, 1.5-2,0 cm in diameter, smooth, seated on accrescent woody, ribbed calyx tube, 5 valved. 

Seed 

Seeds triangular, pale brown, laterally expanded into an oblong wing. 

FACTS & MEDICINAL USES 

Why Jarul is called “Pride of India”? 

The genus Lagerstroemia, now comprising about 56 species, was first described by the Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus in honour of a friend, Carl Magnus von Lagerström (1691-1759). Lagerström, as Director of the Swedish East India Company, procured for Linnaeus several interesting botanical specimens from India and China, although he himself never personally visited Asia. This particular species was originally named Munchausia speciosa (speciosa meaning 'showy') by Linnaeus. It was transferred to the genus Lagerstroemia and named L. flos-reginae, (meaning “queen flower”). The current valid name is Lagerstroemia speciosa. Incidentally, its Hindi name ‘Jarul’ also means “queen of flowers”. Known as ‘Syandana’ in Sanskrit, the plant finds its earliest mention in the Ramayana (Kishkindha Kānda and Aranya Kānda). Pride of India is also the state flower of Maharashtra, and is locally recognized as ‘Tāman’ or ‘Tamhani’. 

The herb can be employed to control the body’s blood sugar levels. It helps break down carbohydrates and sugar and also facilitates their excretion from the body. Ellagitannin (chemical compound), present in jarul leaves, is believed to possess strong properties similar to insulin. Hence the herb serves as a wonderful anti-diabetic supplement. 

The roots of jarul have been used largely in folk medicines to cure various stomach conditions. It is known to provide relief from stomach cramps and diarrhea. 

Jarul is also a rich source of dietary fibres. So, people suffering from hard stools can use the bark, leaves, and flowers of Jarul in order to ease the stools & smoothen bowel movements. Consequently, this offers great relief from constipation. 

Infusion or decoction made from jarul leaves tend to have a positive impact on different urinary disorders like dysuria and renal inflammation. 

Jarul is also good to control hypertension. The herb is also known to bring down blood pressure levels, thus easing hypertension and several other health conditions. 

The corosolic acid found in jarul enables it to be employed as a natural treatment choice for various kinds of cancer. 

Jarul has a strong impact on reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thereby shielding the heart from arteriosclerosis & myocardial infarction. 

The leaves of Jarul have the potential to destroy the free radicals. So, it serves as a good anti-inflammatory agent.