Scientific name: Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr.

Family: Flacourtiaceae

Synonym: Flacourtia sapida Roxb.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Boiciful, Paniala, Beuchi, Baicha, Katai, Dungkhar.

Tribal name: Tamagry (Marma).

English name: Madagascar plum.

Description of the plant: A much-branched, deciduous, thorny small tree. Leaves red or pink when young, ovate or elliptic, glabrous, apex obtusely acuminate, base cuneate to rounded, margin crenate. Flowers white, about 5 mm in diameter, axillary or terminating short branchlets, solitary or in pairs. Fruit is rounded, about 1 cm in diameter, fleshy when fresh, smooth and purple or nearly black when ripe.

Flacourtia indica

Plant parts used: Leaf, bark, root.

Ethnomedicinal uses: A powder is made with the dried roots of the plant is taken with warm water twice a day ( 5 gm amount each time) for 15 days to treat pneumonia.

Dried leaves of the plant are used for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis.

Juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is given to treat fever, diarrhoea, and indigestion

Infusion prepared from the bark of the plant is used as a gargle for hoarseness.

The ashes of the roots are used for kidney ailments.

Distribution: It is found almost all over the country.

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

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