Saraca asoca

Botanical Name – Saraca asoca

Common Name – Apashoka, Chakraguccha, Kamana, Kamuka, Kangkeli, Vishoka, Subhaga, Karnapura (Sanskrit), Sita Asoka (Hindi), Sitecha Ashoka (Marathi)

Habit

• Small evergreen tree
• Slow growing
  
  

Habitat

• Semi-evergreen and evergreen forest
  
  

Distribution- Throughout India

Specific Properties

• Vulnerable as per IUCN Red List
• Due to destructive harvesting from natural habitats, it is extremely rare in wild state
  
  

Ecology

• Macaques, squirrels feed on seeds
• Larval host plant for- Common Ciliate Blue, Common imperial, Plains Cupid, Common Cerulean, Dark Cerulean, Slate Flash butterflies
• Attracts lots of bees, black ants, white ants, flies, moths, and butterflies
  
  

Uses

• Flowers and leaves are edible
• The bark is used to cure dyspepsia, dysentery, piles, sores and women reproductive ailments
• Dried flowers are used for treatment of syphilis, haemorrhagic, diabetes and dysentery
• Plant used for breast cancer therapy, detoxification, blood purification, preventing skin allergies, indigestion, blood disorders, tumours etc
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds
• Air layering