Botanical name : Acacia polyantha Willd.
Family : Mimosaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Kadara, Somavalka
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya, Katu
Guna : Lakhu, Rooksha
Virya : Ushna
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : White cutch tree, White catechu
Hindi : Svetkhadir
Malayalam : Venkaringali, Somarayatoli
Distribution – In southern part of India cultivated as well as growing wild.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A medium sized unarmed tree grows up to 10 meters in height. Leaves bipinnate, leaflets up to 50 pairs, linear-oblong; flowers sessile, white, in terminal spikes; fruits flat pods, with triangular beak on apex, containing many flat round seeds.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, skin diseases, diabetes, ulcers, epilepsy, insanity, obesity and arthritis.
Useful part : Heartwood.
Photo: Dr. Eby Abraham MD