Holoptelea integrifolia

Botanical Name – Holoptelea integrifolia

Common Name – Indian elm, Chirivilva (Sanskrit), Karanji, Chilla, Chirhol, Chilbil, Papdi, Chudail papdi (Hindi), Waval (Marathi), Thappichan maram (Tamil), Nemali nara (Telugu)

Distribution – Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala

Habit

• Large deciduous tree
• Fast-growing
  
  

Habitat

• Dry deciduous to semievergreen forest
  
  

Specific properties

• Found in tropical deciduous forests
• Preferred for soil erosion control
• Moderately drought tolerant
  
  

Ecology

• Birds prefer it for nesting
• Birds feed on its fruit
• Pollinated by insects
• Deer and rabbits relish the bark of the tree
• Larval host plant of Plains cupid butterfly
  
  

Uses

• Leaves and stem bark exhibit antiviral, antioxidant, antimicrobial, abortifacient, anthelmintic, astringent, and anticancer activity.
• Used in treatment of diabetics, rheumatism, tuberculosis, dysmenorrhoea, piles, leprosy, diabetes, flatulence, obesity, edema, bronchitis, leukoderma, boils, swelling, treating ringworm and skin diseases.
• Leaves as fodder
• Oil is extracted from seeds
• Wood is used for making matches boxes, frames of brushes, cutlery, carving statues, plywood, hardwood etc

Propagation

• Seeds