Stamens ofMesua ferrea L. constitute the genuine ‘Nagkeshara’ of Ayurveda, a drug considered to be astringent, stomachic and expectorant. The present communication deals with detailed pharmacognosy of the drug and includes morphological, anatomical as well as certain phytochemical characters of the floral parts ofMesua ferrea. Some of the distinguishing characters are: cortical fibbres, numerous resin canals and calcium oxalate crystals in the cortex and pith of the pedicel; anamocytic, anisocytic or paracytic stomata on sepals and petals; and 3-(4-) zonocolporate pollen grains with reticulate exine surface. Fluorescence analysis, behaviour of the drug with certain chemical reagents and thin layer chromatography were also carried out.