Scientific name: Terminalia chebula Retz.
Family: Combretaceae
Bengali/Vernacular name: Haritaki (Bengali), Hortoki (Noakhali).
Tribal name: Horttal, Oittal (Chakma); Kaho (Mogh); Artak (Garo); Kojuci (Chak); Sum-muui (Murang); Tamada (Rakhaing); Bakhra-phang (Tripura).
English name: Yellow myrobalan, Chebulic myrobalan, Ink nut, Gall nut.
Description of the plant: A medium to large deciduous tree, with drooping branches. Leaves simple, broadly oblong or oblong-elliptic, alternate-opposite, apex shortly acuminate or acute, base rounded, cuneate or slightly cordate, margin entire. Flowers dull-white to yellowish, small, sessile in branched axillary short spikes from the uppermost leaves. Fruit a drupe, subglobose to ellipsoid or obovoid, glabrous, pale greenish-yellow, turning blackish when dry, obscurely 5-ribbed, seed solitary; lanceolate.
Plant parts used: Fruit.
Medicinal uses: Infusion made from dried fruits of the plant is taken to treat anorexia.
Powder made from dried fruits of the plant and adding honey, it is taken for the treatment of vomiting.
Juice extracted from the fruits of the plant and adding some sugar, it is taken for the treatment of constipation.
Distribution: It is found in Dhaka, Chittagong, Tangail, Noakhali; cultivated in many parts of the country.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
