Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.

Family: Euphorbiaceae

Synonym:Baccaurea sapida (Roxb.) Müll.Arg.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Latka, Latkan, Dubi, Natuk, Bhubi.

Tribal name: Tepangai (Bawm); Kusumgula (Chakma); Soh-moremdiung (Khasia); Dojuka (Garo); Kushumai, Khuchumu bathai (Tripura); Rawng-kung (Lushai).                     

English name: Burmese grape.

Description of the plant: A medium-sized tree, young shoots hairy, bark grey with vertical lenticels. Leaves alternate, 12-22 X 6-10 cm, membranous, ovate, obovate, elliptic-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, base cuneate, margin entire, almost glabrous. Female flowers yellow, in simple racemes up to 15 cm long, elongating in fruits. Fruit globose, yellow.

Plant parts used: Leaf, bark, fruit.

Herbal uses: Juice extracted from the young leaves of the plant is taken twice a day (5 ml amount each time) for three days to treat diarrhoea.

A fresh juice extracted from the bark of the plant is taken to treat constipation.

The fruits of the plant are used to treat skin diseases.

A decoction made with the bark of the plant is taken thrice a day (100 ml amount each time) until the jaundice is cured.

Pea-sized pills made from the bark of the plant are taken three times day (one pill each time) for 15 days to treat ureterolithiasis.

The leaves of the plant are used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, abscess, and injuries.

Distribution: It is found throughout the country.

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