Atalantia monophylla

Atalantia monophylla is a small, much-branched, spinous and evergreen tree. This densely foliaceous tree has a rounded crown with single, stout and sharp spines.

The trunk and the main branches of Atalantia monophylla are fluted aand crooked.
The bark is pale brown and smooth.
The twigs bear single, axillary, stout and sharp spines (1.5-2 cm long).

The leaves of Atalantia monophylla grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaves have a 0.5 cm long unwinged petiole.
The leaf is simple, bright green coloured above, pale green below and glabrous on both sides.
The leaf of Atalantia monophylla is 3-6 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. It is ovate-lanceolate or elliptic.
The apex is obtuse and emarginate, the base is obtuse and the margins are entire.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate.
Crushed fresh leaves are very aromatic.

The flowers of Atalantia monophylla are on short axillary racemes (upper axils of the new branchlets). The pedicel is reduced.
The calyx-tube is campanulate, irregularly lobed and 3 mm long and 2 mm across. The calyx is light green and glabrous or finely pubescent.
The corolla is composed of 4 cream-coloured and glabrous petals. The petals are obovate and recurved, 7-8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide.
The androecium is composed of 8 stamens. The filaments are 4 or 6 mm long and connate into a 3 mm long tube
with ovoid anthers borne on the free tips of the filaments.
The pistil is composed of a stout and 5 mm long style and a globose stigma. The ovary is oblong and 4-celled.
The flowers are fragrant.
 

The fruit of Atalantia monophylla is globular-ovoid berry like a miniature orange.
This fruit is 1.5-2 cm across, 4-seeded and with a 1 cm long peduncle.

The seeds of Atalantia monophylla are ovoid, 6-7 mm long and 3 mm wide.

The oil extracted from the berries of Atalantia monophylla is used externally in chronic rheumatism and paralysis. (Basu & Kirtikar, 1918, Indian Medicinal Plants)
The oil extracted from the leaves and from the berries are antibacterial and antifungal. (Khare, C.P., 2007, Indian Medicinal Plants, An Illustrated Dictionary)

A decoction of the leaves is applied to cutaneous affections. The essential oil extracted from the leaves is used in paralysis. (Khare, C.P., 2007, Indian Medicinal Plants, An Illustrated Dictionary)

The leaf juice is an ingredient of a compound liniment used in hemiplegia. (Basu & Kirtikar, 1918, Indian Medicinal Plants)