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Siamese Yellowleaf

Submitted by admin on 11 March 2026
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Scientific name
Xanthophyllum flavescens Roxb.
English Name
Siamese Yellowleaf
Malayalam name
മടുക്ക,മൊട്ടല്‍
Common name
Siamese Yellowleaf

Description 

  1. Habit : Medium to large evergreen tree or shrub 
  2. Habitat : Tropical rainforests, mixed dipterocarp forests, and along streams in moist areas. 
  3. Leaves : Elliptic to lance-shaped, leathery, greenish and shiny, drying to a distinct yellow color. 
  4. Flowers : Small, fragrant, pale yellow to white, borne in racemes or panicles at branch ends. 
  5. Fruit : A round, unwinged drupe, green turning brown, up to 2 cm in diameter.
Uses

Fever, headaches, diarrhea, colic, gastrointestinal disorders

Parts used
Bark, leaves
How to use
  1. Diarrhea & Fever : A decoction of the bark is traditionally consumed to treat diarrhea, colic, and other gastrointestinal disorders.In various traditional medicine systems, extracts from the plant are used to alleviate fever and headaches.
  2. Antimicrobial properties : The leaves are also known to possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and are sometimes utilized in local topical remedies.
Conservation

Propagation & Cultivation 

Propagated primarily through seeds or stem cuttings. It requires moist, well-drained loamy or sandy soils, and thrives in full sun to partial shade. Once established, it is somewhat drought-tolerant but prefers consistent moisture, typical of its native rainforest habitat. Often used as a pioneer species in reforestation projects due to its fast growth and dense canopy, it requires minimal maintenance in suitable tropical climates.