Cordia dichotoma

Botanical Name – Cordia dichotoma

Common Name – Bahuka, Bahuvaraha, Uddalaka (Sanskrit), Lasoda (Hindi), Bhokar (Marathi), Antuvala (Kannada), Gunda (Gujrati)

Distribution – Throughout India

Habit

• Small to moderate-sized deciduous tree
• Medium growth
  
  

Habitat

• Dry deciduous forests
  
  

Specific Properties

• Moderately drought tolerant
  
  

Ecology

• Frugivorous birds, bats, feed on fruits
• Mammals like macaques, squirrels, jackals, civets feed on fruits
• Food plant for Common Oakblue butterfly
• Attracts lots of bees and ants
• Seed dispersal is aided by birds and monkeys which feed on the ripe fruit
  
  

Uses

• Fruits can be eaten raw or cooked
• Leaves, fruit, bark and seed possess anti-diabetic, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, cough suppressants, immune-modulator, analgesic activity and wound healing properties
• Leaves and bark are used in the treatment of dyspepsia, fever, diarrhoea, leprosy, gonorrhoea and burning sensation
• Unripe fruits are pickled, eaten as vegetable
• Leaves are used as fodder and seeds as cattle feed
• In agroforestry, used as hedge for windbreak
• Leaves are used in making biodegradable cutlery
• Seeds yield oil
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds