Scientific name: Callicarpa arborea Roxb.
Family: Verbenaceae
Synonym: Callicarpa magna Schauer
Bengali/Vernacular name: Bormala (Bengalli); Koja, Khoja, Haja (Chittagong); Dhalahuja (Sylhet).
Tribal name: Jang gach, Banitak (Chakma); Mashkhanchi (Garo); Lykee (Khumi); Lihid-pana (Marma); Tara-mah (Marma).
English name: Beautyberry tree.
Description of the plant: A moderate sized tree, branches densely tomentose. Leaves are elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or ovate, leathery, densely yellow-brown velvety on the underside, dark green and shiny above, base wedge-shaped to rounded, margin entire. Purple flowers are borne in cymes 6-11 cm across. Cymes are carried on 4-angled stalks, longer than leaf-stalks. Fruit a small drupe, about 2.5 mm in diameter, purple when ripe.
Parts used: Leaf, bark, and root.
Ethnomedicinal uses: A fresh juice is extracted from the roots of the plant is taken thrice a day (5 ml amount each time) for three days to treat fever.
An extract prepared from the leaves of the plant, hot bath is advised to have once a day with that leaf extract for the treatment of epilepsy.
Paste is prepared from the leaves of the plant, after warming and adding some salt it is applied on the infected gum twice a day until the gingivitis is cured.
A fresh juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant, and then massage is done on the affected part of the body twice a day until the rheumatism is cured.
An extract is made with the barks of the plant is used to treat diarrhoea.
Paste prepared from the leaves of the plant is applied on the affected part of the body for the treatment of scorpion sting.
Fresh juice is extracted from the leaves of the plant is administered for the treatment of worm infestation.
Distribution: It is found in forests of Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts, Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and some Northern districts.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
