172
Terminalia
chebula Retz.
Synonym : Terminalia parviflora Thwaites
Family
: Combretaceae
Local Names
: Kadukka, Pulicakku,
Gallnut, Black myrobalan
Flowering
and fruiting period:
February – August
Distribution: South Asia
Habitat: Dry and moist deciduous forests
IUCN
status:
Data Deficient
Endemic: No
Uses: Seed - eaten as a snack. Edible
oil is obtained from the seed. Black myrobalan is of central importance to
Ayurvedic medicine. It has long been considered a prime remedy for all
manner of digestive problems and is sacred to Siva. The sour fruits are a major
ingredient of 'triphala', a rejuvenative, laxative tonic based on this species
plus the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica
and Terminalia bellireca. It is also
an ingredient of 'amrit kalash', another famous Ayurvedic tonic formula. The
flowers give a yellow dye, used for painting yellow and green details on
calicos.
Key
Characters:
Deciduous trees, to 25 m high, bark surface
dark brown to black. Leaves simple,
