Botanical name : Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) Macbride. (Bassia longifolia J. Koenig
Family : Sapotaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Madhooka, Madhuka
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Madhura, Tikta, Kashaya
Guna : Guru
Virya : Seeta
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : South Indian mahua
Hindi : Mahva, Mohva
Malayalam : Ilippa, Irippa
Distribution – In evergreen forests in India especially Western Ghats.
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Moderate to large sized evergreen tree grows up to 30 meters in height. Leaves dark green, clustered near the ends of branches petioles slender, lanceolate, acute, and glabrous. Flowers pale yellow and fleshy appearing in dense clusters near the ends of branches, with tubular corolla and with fragrance. Fruits ovoid berries, yellow when ripe.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated vata, pitta, inflammation, burning sensation, urinary retention, intestinal worms, dermatitis, hemorrhoids and general debility.
Useful part : Bark, Heart-wood, Flowers, Fruits, Seeds
Photo : Dr. Eby Abraham MD