Mangifera indica

Botanical Name – Mangifera indica

Common Name – Aamra (Sanskrit), Aam, Aama, Ambi, Amri (Hindi), Amba (Marathi) Maavina hannu (Kannada), Maambazham (Malayalam), Aambo (Gujrati)

Habit

• Medium to large sized evergreen tree
• Medium growth rate
  
  

Habitat

• Dry, moist deciduous and semi evergreen forests
  
  

Distribution – Throughout India

Specific properties

• It is a national fruit of India
• Preferred for soil reclamation, land restoration
• Tree tolerates disturbance, drought, and occasional flooding
• Pioneer species
• Good for agroforestry: as shade tree, holds soil, provide fruits
  
  
  

Ecology

• Bees and butterflies visit the flowers for nectar
• Fruits are relished and dispersed by birds, rodents, civets, bats, primates, elephants, and humans alike
• Larval host plant for Common Ciliate Blue, Common Imperial, Common Onxy, Brown Onyx, Slate Flash, Common Baron, Monkey Puzzle, White edged Blue Baron, Grey Baron, Baronet butterfly
• Nectar plant for Grey Pansy, Indian jezebel
  
  
  

Uses

• Mango possesses anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-viral, cardiotonic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory properties. Most parts of the tree are used medicinally
• Tree parts are used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, anaemia, asthma, bronchitis, cough, hypertension, insomnia, rheumatism, toothache, leucorrhoea, haemorrhage, piles abscesses, rabid dog or jackal bite, tumour, snakebite, stings, datura poisoning, miscarriage, anthrax, blisters, wounds in the mouth, tympanites, colic, glossitis, indigestion, bloody dysentery, liver disorders, excessive urination, tetanus, and asthma

• Raw and ripe fruits are eaten and used to make pickle, chutney, jam and juice etc
• The juice of raw mango is used as restorative tonic in heat stroke
• Slender branches are used as toothbrushes to treat toothache
• Gum is used in dressings for cracked feet and for scabies
• Bark and the leaves produce yellowish-brown dye used for silk dying
• Fumes from the burning leaves are inhaled for relief from hiccups and affections of the throat
• The leaves and flowers are used in Hindu ritual worship, in marriage rituals
• Mango wood is used for making temples, furniture, and implements

Propagation

• Seeds