Aquilaria agallocha

Scientific name: Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.

Family: Thymelaeaceae

Bengali/Vernacular name: Agar.

Tribal name: Agar gach (Chakma), Mahaga (Marma, Tripura).

English name: Agar.

Description of the plant: A large evergreen tree, with straight bole. Leaves alternate, linear-lanceolate to ovate-oblong. Flowers small, greenish on shortly peduncled umbels, arising laterally from the younger branches. Capsules ovoid, densely tomentose.

Plant parts used: Leaf, stem, root.

Ethnomedicinal uses: A powder is made with the dried stems of the plant is taken with cow milk twice a day (2 gm amount each time) for one week to treat cardiac weakness.

Fresh juice extracted from the roots of the plant is taken twice a day (three tea spoons amount each time) for one week to treat constipation.

Powder made from the dried leaves of the plant is taken twice a day (5 gm amount each time) with water for three days to treat painful micturation.

A fresh juice is extracted from the roots of the plant is taken twice a day (10 ml amount each time) for three days to treat loose motion.

Distribution: The plant grows in Maulvi Bazar forests, cultivated occasionally by the Forest Department in Sylhet region.

Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….