Elanji poo

'elanji poo manam ozhuki varunnu indriyangalil athu padarunnu' a very famous malayalam film song.
Flowers are used to make perfumes. Elanji is a shade giving tree.

'Elanjithara melam' is a famous event in thrissur pooram. It is the performance of percussion artists under an old elanji tree in the vadakkunnathan temple premises. Elanji is very common in Kerala.

We used to wear this elanji poo in hair by arranjing them in an 'eerkili'.

'Ilanji poomanam ozhuki varunnu' is a book about an ilanji tree in the temple premise of Ayyanthole and also an inspiring message about communal harmony...read more

English name of Elanji is Bullet wood tree. It is the tree of Anizham star according to Jyothisham.

We can see Elanji tree in our puranas. One story connected with Guruvayoor Sri krishna and Elanji tree. more

In Sanskrit it is known as Bakula

Importance of Elanji in Ayurveda

Punna

Most common plant in Kuttanadu area. Seeds are known as punnakka. Oil can be extracted from the seeds. This oil is used in cosmetics. Wood is used for making canoes.

Vatta

A very familiar plant in Kerala. Its leaves are in exact circular shape thus the name vatta(means circle). Its resin can be used as gum. Leaves are used to pack various things in Kerala. Its wood is used for cooking purposes.

Marotti plant

Marottil leaves.
Marotti maram pictures. Marottikka images. Fruits of Marotti tree. We had spotted this tree on our way to Anchuruli at Kattappana. We can see 'Marottikka' also.

Seeds of this tree contains oil. 'Marottikka thinna kakkaye pole' is a very famous saying in Malayalam. In my childhood we will cut the seeds and these are used as 'chirathu' instead of vessels made from clay on Thrikkarthika.
My father told me that marotti enna(marotti oil) and punna enna(punna oil) were used to light lamps (vilakku) in those days. marotti pinnakku was used as manure for coconut trees and it was a good pest repallant too. 'Kan mazhi' was prepared by lighting the lamp in marotti oil in those days.

Botanical name: Hydnocarpus Pentandra Oken

Malayalam:Marotti

English name:Chaulmoogra

A belief exists about this plant is that its presence indicates water in the soil. Its oil is considered to be the most auspicious among tribals. Oil is a medicine to leprosy. Oil is also used for making soap.

Karuva leaves

Cinnamon plant leaves
Bark is widely used as a spice. The dried skin of this plant is known as 'Karuvappatta'. Its very special odour makes it more spicy. Karuva leaves are also used in cooking.
Vazhana ela Temples of Kerala