Semecarpus anacardium

Botanical Name – Semecarpus anacardium

Common Name – Ahvala, Arshastah, Arudhkh, Vahnih (Sanskrit), Bhilva, Bhilma, Bhela, Kohaka, Bibba (Hindi), Bibba (Marathi), Kadu (Kannada), Geru (Malayalam), Bhilamo (Gujrati)

Habit

• Moderate sized deciduous tree
• Slow growing
  
  

Habitat

• Moist deciduous and semi evergreen forests
  
  

Distribution – Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

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
  
  

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
• The bark, gum, leaf and seed are used in snake bite and scorpion sting treatment
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds