Botanical name : Holigarna arnottiana Hook.
Family : Anacardiaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Vanabhallataka
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Katu, Kashaya, Madhura
Guna : Teekshna, Snigdha, Lakhu
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Black varnish tree of Malabar
Hindi : Holgery
Malayalam : Kattucher, Kattuchermaram, Karimcher, Char
Distribution – Throughout in Western Ghats; in dense evergreen forests.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A medium to large sized spreading evergreen tree grows up to 50 meters in height. Leaves opposite, sometimes found in whorls of 5-6, oblong-lanceolate, acute with prominent nerves. Flowers small found in axillary panicles; more or less similar to mango flower. Fruits are drups, dark green when immature and turns to dark purple when ripe, containing single seed. The resin comes from the bark is caustic, and cause ulcers on contact.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha, inflammation, arthritis, hemorrhoids, obesity, tumor, cancer, and skin diseases.
Useful part : Seeds.