Elaeocarpus angustifolius

Elaeocarpus angustifolius
Leaves and fruit on the ground in Keʻanae Arboretum, note this may actually be E. grandis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Oxalidales
Family: Elaeocarpaceae
Genus: Elaeocarpus
Species:
E. angustifolius
Binomial name
Elaeocarpus angustifolius
Synonyms
List
    • Ayparia crenata Raf.
    • Elaeocarpus baclayanensis Elmer
    • Elaeocarpus crenatus (Raf.) Merr.
    • Elaeocarpus cyanocarpus Maingay ex Mast.
    • Elaeocarpus dolichopetalus Merr.
    • Elaeocarpus fauroensis Hemsl.
    • Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. ex G.Don
    • Elaeocarpus hebridarum Knuth
    • Elaeocarpus major (Hochr.) Knuth
    • Elaeocarpus muellerianus Schltr.
    • Elaeocarpus novoguineensis Warb.
    • Elaeocarpus parkinsonii Warb.
    • Elaeocarpus polyschistus Schltr.
    • Elaeocarpus sphaericus Gaertn.) Ettingsh.
    • Elaeocarpus subglobosus Merr.
    • Elaeocarpus wenzelii Merr.
    • Ganitrus sphaerica Gaertn.

Elaeocarpus angustifolius is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae and occurs from India to New Caledonia and northern Australia. Common synonyms are E. ganitrus and E. sphaericus. It is a large evergreen tree, often with buttress roots, and has leaves with wavy serrations, creamy white flowers and more or less spherical bright blue drupe fruit. In English, the tree is known as utrasum bean tree in India. In Sri Lanka recorded names are woodenbegar and Indian bead tree. It is simply known as elaeocarpus in the Northern Territory of Australia. Other names used for this tree in Australia are Indian oil fruit and genitri. In Hawaii it (or the possible synonym E. grandis) is known as a blue marble tree.

In India, the cleaned pits of the fruit of this tree are known as rudraksha (from Sanskrit: rudrākṣa, meaning "Rudra's teardrops" or "eyes") and are widely used as prayer beads, particularly in Hinduism. Rudraksha might be produced by more than one species of Elaeocarpus, however E. angustifolius is the principal species used in the making of mala (garlands).