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A crown of intoxication
The Mi tree is common in the dry and intermediate zones and in particular along the banks of rivers, streams and lakes. In these areas it can grow to be very large (upto 25m) and stout (with a girth as much as 5 m). In urban areas it is much smaller. The tree can be easily recognised by its dense crown and foliage with the leaves crowded at the ends of branches. Its young leaves give the tree a characteristic burnished look with their shades of bronze, yellow and pink.

The leaves are lance-shaped and tapering at both ends hence the second part of its botanic name Madhuca longifolia. In Sinhala it is the Mi and in Tamil the Illupai. It has two names in English. The first is Honey Tree which it gets from the fact that the flowers produce large amounts of nectar and thus are effective in producing honey. The other name, Mousey Mi, refers, I believe, to the colour of the young leaves.

The tree flowers between February and May. The light yellow small flowers have long stalks and are sweet smelling and edible. They have a high sugar content and are attractive to many wild animals, particularly the Sloth Bear, which during the flowering season can be seen drunk after gorging itself on these flowers.

Most parts of the Mi tree can be and are used by humans. The seeds contain about 50% oil which has been used in Sri Lanka and India since as far back as recorded history goes. The Mahawamsa records that this oil was used for lighting and for cooking too. It is used widely in ayurvedic medicine for, among other things, rheumatism, ulcers, and habitual constipation. It has also been used in the manufacture of soaps, margarine and confectioneries including chocolate. The oil has also been used to treat timber against termite attack. After the oil has been extracted the residue is known as “Mi cake” and this too is valuable. It is used for purposes as diverse as manure, as insecticide, as animal feed and as hair-wash.

The tree provides good timber but is too valuable to be felled for timber under normal circumstances. The timber is hard and heavy and comparable to Jak and Mahogany.

The Mi is indigenous to Sri Lanka and India. In Colombo this tree can be seen fairly frequently as a street tree. On Mihindu Mawatha (near the courts complex) two fine specimens of Mi can be seen. Mi trees have also been planted along Horton Place and Ward Place and in front of St. Bridget’s Convent and can be easily spotted by their burnished leaves.

Compiled by: Ruk Rakaganno, The Tree
Society of Sri Lanka
Phone:2554438; email: rukraks@sltnet.lk

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