Botanical name : Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Thwaites.
Family : Annonaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Ulkata, Kastadaru
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Kashaya, Tikta
Guna : Guru
Virya : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Mast tree, Cemetery tree
Hindi : Debadari, Asoka
Malayalam : Aranamaram
Distribution – Throughout India cultivated as a garden tree.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A tall evergreen tree grows up to 45 meters in height. Leaves simple, alternate, acute, with undulate margins; flowers greenish yellow in axillary fascicles. Fruits are small globose berries.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, inflammation, fever, skin disease, diabetes, hypertension and worm infestation. Its bark is used as an adulterant for Saraca asoka.
Useful part : Whole plant.
Photo :Dinesh Valke