What is "mesua"

Mesua is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Calophyllaceae, native to tropical southern Asia. Common names include ironwood (shared with many other plants) and rose chestnut.

They are evergreen shrubs or small trees growing to 13 m tall, with leaves arranged in opposite pairs.

Vidalia Fern.-Vill. is a synonym of Mesua.

Species include:

• Mesua daphnifolia
• Mesua elegans
• Mesua ferrea
• Mesua ferruginea
• Mesua kochummenia
• Mesua kunstleri
• Mesua lepidota
• Mesua manii
• Mesua nervosa
• Mesua nivenii
• Mesua nuda
• Mesua purseglovei
• Mesua rosea
• Mesua roxburghii
• Mesua stylosa
• Mesua thwaitesii
• Mesua wrayi