Bridelia stipularis

Botanical Name – Bridelia scandens

Common Name – Climbing Bridelia, Phatarpodi, Ran-phatarphad (Marathi), Ghonta (Sanskrit)

Habit

• Large woody shrub
  
  

Habitat

• Moist and semi evergreen forests
  
  

Distribution

• Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala
  
  

Ecology

• Yellow footed Green Pigeon, Bulbuls, Barbets feed on fruits
• Flies, moths visit and pollinate flowers
• The host plant of Endoclita malabaricus moth
• Larval Host Plant of Common Hedge Blue & Tricolour Pied Flat
  
  

Uses

• Fruit is edible
• The bark is used as a medicine against intestinal worm
• An infusion of the leaves is used as a treatment against colic and jaundice, thrush and in postpartum treatment
• The twigs are used in basketry
• A fatty oil is obtained from the seeds
• Bark decoction is given to children for cough, fever and asthma and as gargle for sores in mouth
• Leaf powder and warm leaf poultice are applied to white spots in the skin (Marma)
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds