Botanical name : Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R.Br.
Family : Apocynaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Saptaparna, Sapthachada, Visalatvak, Chatraparna, Suktiparna, Sarada
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Snigdha
Virya : Ushna
Vipaka : Katu
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Devil tree
Hindi : Chattiyan, Saitan ka jat
Malayalam : Ezhilam pala, Yakshippala, Daivappala, Pala
Distribution – Growing naturally throughout India, in dense evergreen forests.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
A moderate to large sized evergreen tree grows up to 30 meters in height. Leaves 5-7 in a whorl, elliptic-oblong, obtuse and petiolate; flowers small greenish white, found in umbellate cymes. Fruits follicles about 50 cm long, conatin papillose seeds with hairs on each ends.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, skin diseases, fever, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, indigestion, intestinal worms, tumors, malignancy, ulcers, wounds cough, bronchitis, insanity, epilepsy and general debility.
Useful part : Bark, Leaves, Latex.
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD