Nagkesar seed oil facts for kids
Nagkesar oil comes from the seeds of the Nagkesar tree, also known as the Mesua ferrea. In Hindi, it's called नागकेसर. This tree is a beautiful evergreen plant from East India. People often plant it because its white flowers smell wonderful and are used to make perfume. The tree's wood is very strong and is even used for things like railroad ties. It's so important that it's the national tree of Sri Lanka!
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for the Nagkesar tree is Mesua ferrea. The first part, Mesua, is named after a person called J. Mesue, who lived a long time ago (777–857 AD). The second part, ferrea, comes from a Latin word that means 'belonging to iron'. This name was chosen because the tree's wood is incredibly hard and strong, just like iron!
Many Names for One Tree
This amazing tree has many different names around the world.
Names in India
In India, people call it by various names, like:
- Hindi− नाग चम्पा (Nag champa), नागकेसर (Nagkesar)
- Marathi− नागचंपा (nagchampa), नागकेशर (nagakeshara)
- Malayalam− ചുരുളി (churuli)
- Assam− নাহৰ (Nahor), নাগেশ্বৰ (Nageshwar)
- Sanskrit− नागकेशर (nagakesarah)
Names in Other Countries
Outside India, it's also known by different names:
- English− Ceylon ironwood, Cobra's saffron, Indian rose-chestnut, Iron-wood tree
- German− Nagassamen
- Russian− Indiiskoe zheleznoe derevo (Indian iron tree)
- Chinese− Tie li mu
- Japanese− Tagayasan
- Thai− Bunnak
Where the Tree Grows
The Nagkesar tree can grow very tall, sometimes up to 100 feet (about 30 meters)! It naturally grows in places like Sri Lanka, India, Burma, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Sumatra. You'll often find it in evergreen forests, especially near rivers. In some areas, like the Himalayas and parts of India, it can grow high up in the mountains, even at altitudes of 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet).
What the Tree Looks Like
The Tree Itself
The Nagkesar tree is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree. It can reach about 13 meters (43 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 90 centimeters (35 inches) across. The leaves are dark green, narrow, and oblong, usually 7–15 cm (3–6 inches) long, with a whitish color underneath. When new leaves grow, they are a pretty red or yellowish-pink color and hang down. The wood of this tree is very hard, heavy, and strong.
Beautiful Flowers
The flowers of the Nagkesar tree are found at the ends of branches or where leaves meet the stem. They are usually solitary or grow in small groups. Each flower is quite large, about 4–7.5 cm (1.5–3 inches) wide, with four white petals. These fragrant flowers are sometimes used to make incense or even to stuff pillows!
Fruits and Seeds
After the flowers, the tree produces fruits. These fruits are like capsules, usually round, and often have a pointed tip. They are reddish and hard, about 2.5–5 cm (1–2 inches) long. Inside each fruit, you'll find one to four seeds. The seeds are dark brown, shiny, and contain oily parts called cotyledons. These seeds are what we use to get the Nagkesar oil.
What's in Nagkesar Oil?
Nagkesar oil is made up of different types of fats, called fatty acids. The main ones are oleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid. These are common types of fats found in many plant oils. The oil also contains other natural compounds that can sometimes give it a unique smell.
Images for kids
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Fertilized flower
