Embelia ribes Burm. f.

 E. gJandulifera Wight

 MYRSINACEAE

 

Vernacular names:

Hindi                 - Vayvidang, Baba rang

Kannada           - Vaayu vilanga, Hulimeese

Malayalam        - Vizhal

Marathi             - Vyavadinga

Sanskrit            - Vidanga

Tamil                - Vivilangam, Vaivelangum

Telugu               - Vaividungalu

 

Threat status:

Vulnerable (A 1 c,d) - KA & TN Lower Risk near threatened - KL

 

Habit: Woody climber (Liana)

 

Habitat: Evergreen to semi-evergreen forests

 

Altitude: 400 - 1900 m

 

Distribution: Global: India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and south China. National: Throughout India mostly in the hill tracts (Central Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu). Regional: Common in the wet forests of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

 

Description: A large woody climbing shrub. Stems smooth, brown, with large distinct tubercular projections. Branchlets drooping, with many white lenticells. Leaves alternate, elliptic to oblong, 5-10 x 2-3.5 em, base rounded, apex acute or shortly acuminate, papery, hairless, distinctly stalked; lateral nerves many, slender, inconspicuous, with sunken glandular pits flanking lower side of the midrib. Flowers bisexual, minute, about 2 mm across, shortly stalked, white, mildly fragrant, arranged in axillary and terminal branched racemes, which are 7-15 cm long. Drupes globose, about 5 mm across, hairless, dark blue when ripe, shortly beaked at apex, with distinct vertical lines. Seeds 1.

 

Phenology: Flowering: February to April; Fruiting: May to August

 

Medicinal uses: A powerful anthelmintic and light acrid, astringent, alternative, nervine tonic. Used to relieve constipation, colic, indigestion, flatulence, piles, leprosy and skin diseases. The paste is locally applied against ringworm and other skin infections. Seed powder is used to cure headache. Roots improve digestion and cure flatulence plus colic. Powder made from dried bark of the root is a reputed remedy for toothache.

 

Trade information: Local, regional and global. Globular mature fruits (dull red or brown colour) are traded under the name Vidanga, Baibaranga. Priced at Rs.60 to 250/Kg. (Market Studies, 1999-2000). The common adulterant is the fruit of Myrsine africana.

 

Mode of propagation: By seeds and stem cuttings

 

Special characters: Drooping branchlets with many white prominent lenticells; leaves with minute perforations along the midrib beneath, tasting sour. Pepper-sized fruits have many distinct vertical lines.