Flacourtia montana

Botanical Name – Flacourtia montana

Common Name – Mountain Sweet Thorn

Distribution

• Endemic to Western ghats

   

Habitat

• Semievergreen and moist deciduous forests of Western Ghats
  
  

Habit

•           Medium sized
•           Evergreen species
  
  

Specific Properties

•          Sharp tout thorns at the base of the tree
  trunk
  
  

Ecology

•           Edible fruits
•           Flowers attract lots of bees
•           Bats, civets, birds, rodents feed on
  fruits
  
  

Uses

•          The leaves are used as an antidote to snake bites
•          The leaf is carminative, astringent
• Traditionally used for asthma, pain relief,
  gynaecological complaints and as an anthelmintic, and treatment for hydrocele,
• Pneumonia and intestinal worms
•          Fruits are pleasantly acrid and can be
  eaten raw or made into jelly
•           Wood is used as timber for building, and
  agricultural implements like plough
•          Bark is used as tanning material

Propagation

• Seed