Semecarpus anacardium

Botanical name: Semecarpus anacardium

Common Name: Marking Nut Tree/ Bhilva

Habit

• Deciduous tree
• Small-Medium
• Slow growing

Specific Properties

• Drought tolerant
• The plant is poisonous to the touch, can cause severe skin rash
  
  

Ecology

• Macaques, bats feed on fruits
• Bees, birds and bats feed on nectar and pollen
• Flies, bees, wasps, butterflies, ants are main pollinators of Bhilva tree
  
  

Uses

• Ripe fruits are edible, unripe are pickled
• The fruit and nut extract show anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-reproductive, anti-carcinogenic properties, reduces formation of fatty deposits in the arteries, controls blood sugar levels and promotes hair growth
• Fruit juice is used in the treatment of bronchitis, dysentery, fever, asthma, haemorrhoids, used externally to remove rheumatic pains, aches and sprains
• Latex is applied externally for treatment of headaches, skin diseases and scabies
• Use in making a permanent marking ink
• An oil obtained from seeds is used as addictive substances to lacquers, dyes and insulating material; in the plastics industry, for regenerating rubber materials and to protect wood from white ants
• Yields tannins, black dye, gum
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds