Mimusops elengi

Scientific name: Mimusops elengi L.

Family: Sapotaceae

Synonym: Mimusops lucida Poir.

Bengali/Vernacular name: Bakul.

Tribal name: Sheraa-bawn (Rakhaing).

English name: Elengi, Indian medlar, Spanish chery, Bullet wood.

Description of the plant: A medium to large tree with a dense leafy head. Leaves simple, alternate, petiolate, oblong or elliptic-oblong, margin entire, base cuneate to broad, apex acuminate, venation pinnate reticulate. Flowers bisexual, clustered in leaf axils, 2-6 in a cluster, sometimes solitary, creamy-white, fragrant, open flower star-shaped. Fruits a berry, with persistent calyx, yellow when ripe. Seed single, embedded in juicy pulp.

Plant parts used: Bark.

Medicinal uses: Decoction made from barks of the plant is taken thrice a day for two weeks to treat dysuria.

Paste prepared from the barks of the plant is applied on the tooth to treat tooth decay.

Powder made from barks of the plant and adding little amount of honey, it is taken to treat worm.

Distribution: Planted all over Bangladesh.

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