Schima wallichii

Schima wallichii is an evergreen tree, medium sized to large tree with a dense crown found at an altitude of 900-2100m . In Nepal, it is locally termed as Chilaune belongs to tea family Theaceae.

It is a tree up to 10-20m tall. Young branches grayish brown, glabrous, densely white lenticellate, yellowish pubescent branchlets, longitudinally ribbed. Petiole 1-2cm, yellowish villous, leaf blade elliptic to broadly elliptic, leathery, abaxially pale green becoming brown when dry, adaxially dark green and glabrous, base broadly cuneate, margin entire, apex bluntly acute. Flowers axiliary, solitary or to 3 in a cluster, while 3-4 cm in diameter. Pedicel 1-1.5cm, grey pubescent, white lancellate. Sepal lunate to semiorbicular, 1.5-2*3-3.5 mm, outside glabrous or puberulent, margin ciliolate. Petals white, broadly obovate, apex rounded, apex rounded. Stamens 8-10, filaments adnate with petals. Ovary globose, yellowish tomentose but apically glabrous. Seeds reniform.

Leaves are used as fodder and making compost. Bark is used for dyeing purposes. Bark powder is taken with water for the treatment of gastritis. Wood is used as timber for construction i.e, home frames and window, shutter, door, etc and also used for fuel.

                   Some photos of Schima wallichii from Pilot baba, Kathmandu