Limonia acidissima L.

Family: Rutaceae

Synonym: Feronia limonia (L.)

Bengali/Vernacular name: Koethbel.

Tribal name: Angklu (Khumi), Ching- por-ui (Murang), Oray-sthei (Rakhaing).

English name: Wood apple, Elephant apple, Curd fruit, Monkey fruit.

Description of the plant: A medium-sized, semi-deciduous tree, up to 12 m tall, armed with axillary sharp spines. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, up to 12 cm long, petioles and rachis narrowly winged, leaflets 5-7, opposite, obovate, 3-4 cm long, base cuneate, crenate at the apex, entire. Inflorescence axillary or terminal, many-flowered panicles, or racemes.Flowers small, dull red or greenish-white. Fruit a globose berry, 5-8 cm in diameter with greenish-white or brownish, hard, woody rind, pulp fleshy, chocolate-coloured when ripe, many-seeded.

Plant parts used: Leaf, fruit, seed.

Herbal uses: Leaf juice is used as a remedy of intestinal troubles of children.

Seedsof the plant are used to treat heart diseases.

A mixture made with the fruit pulp, water and salt then it is taken twice a day (100 ml amount each time) for two days or until the stomachache is cured.

A fresh juice extracted from the young leaves of the plant is mixed with milk and sugar then it is given to children to stop vomiting and other gastric problems.

Powdered leaves are mixed with honey and it is taken for the treatment of diarrhoea, and dysentery.

Fresh juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is taken thrice a day for three days to treat hiccup.

Distribution: It is very common in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Kushtia, and other north-western districts.

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