Flacourtia indica

Common Name –  Governor’s plum

Sanskrit:  श्रृववृक्ष / Shruva-vruksha

Botanical name- Flacourtia indica

Habit-

• Deciduous
• Small thorny tree
• Slow growing
  
  

Specific properties

• Very adaptable plant, grows in wide range of geographic range
• Pioneer species
• Drought tolerant
  
  

Ecology

• Birds feed on fruits
• Attracts lots of bees and other pollinator insects
• Larval host plant for Double-branded Crow, Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Common Four-ring, Common Crow butterfly
  
  

Uses

• Fruits are edible, used to prepare jams, sauces and jellies
• Fermented fruits are used to make alcoholic beverages
• An important herb in Ayurveda, where infusions of the bark, leaves and root are used medicinally to treat conditions such as fever, diarrhoea and inflammations
• Leaves can be used as sedatives and useful for asthma and gynaecological problems
• Root and ash are used as a remedy for kidney complaints
• A root decoction in combination with the leaf-sap is taken for schistosomiasis, malaria and to relieve body pains
• Barks are used for the treatment of intermittent fever
• Infusion of the bark is used as a gargle for hoarseness
• The leaves are used as an antidote to snake bites
• Can be planted as tall hedge, windbreak, or boundary screen
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds