Streblus asper

Botanical Name – Streblus asper

Common Name – Sandpaper Tree, Toothbrush tree, Kharota

Distribution

• In India: It is distributed throughout drier parts of
  India. It is found in, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha,
  Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Andaman Islands.

Habitat

It is found in deciduous forests and secondary forests at
elevations from sea level to 1,000 meters.

Habit

• Evergreen
• Small tree
• Moderate growth
  
  

Ecology

• Birds feed on its fruits
• Bulbuls constituted the major seed dispersals of
  Streblus asper in the mixed dry deciduous forests.

Uses

• Fruits are edible
• An infusion of the leaves is drunk as herbal tea
• The root is prescribed as a cure for elephantiasis and
  as antidote to snake bite
• Roots are astringent, bitter, acrid, anti-inflammatory,
  healing, haemostatic, febrifuge, and antiseptic.
• The bark is used for constipation and ulcers.
• A decoction of the stem bark is used in the treatment
  of dysentery, diarrhoea, fever and toothache.
• A decoction of the branchlets is drunk to relieve a
  swollen abdomen.
• The seed is considered tonic and carminative, as
  well as an appetizer.
• A fibre from the plant is used for making paper.
• Leaves can be used like sandpaper and for cleaning
  cooking utensils.

Propagation

• Seeds