
Symplocos
racemosa
Roxb.
S.
beddomei
C.B.Clarke
S.
candolleana
Brand
SYMPLOCACEAE
Vernacular names:
Hindi - Lodh
Kannada - Bala doddli, Lodhra
Malayalam - Pachotti
Marathi - Lodhra
Sanskrit - Rodhra
Tamil - Vel/i/athi
Telugu - Lodduga
Threat
status:
Vulnerable
(A 1 c,d) - KA
Data
Deficient - KL
Lower Risk
near threatened - TN
Habit:
Tree
Habitat:
Semi-evergreen to shola forests
Altitude:
700 - 2200
m
Distribution:
Global:
South and
southeast Asia. National: Western peninsular
India, northeastern states (Assam and Megalaya). Regional:
Common in high altitude wet forests of Karnataka, Kerala
and Tamil Nadu.
Description:
Medium
sized trees, 10-15 m tall, about 1 m girth. Branchlets hairless.
Leaves alternate, elliptic-oblong, 8-15 x 3-6 em,
base wedge-shaped to rounded, apex acute to acuminate, margin
toothed with rounded to saw-like teeth, obscurely recurved,
papery, hairless,
distinctly
stalked; lateral nerves 8-11 pairs. Flowers
bisexual, shortly stalked, in 6-17 cm long axillary racemes,
about 1 cm across, white with pink tinge, fragrant. Drupes
ellipsoid to ovoid, about 1.5 x 0.6 em, hairless,
ripening dark blue, turning yellow when dry. Seeds
1-2, oblong.
Phenology: Flowering:
October to
December;
Fruiting:
January to
May
Medicinal uses:
Stem bark
is used to treat haemorrhage, acne and pimples, leucorrhea,
wounds, skin disorders, plant poisons, ascites, hoarseness of
voice, fever, menstrual disorders, liver diseases, menorrhagia,
bowel complaints, ulcers and to give firmness to spongy and
bleeding gums.
Trade
information:
Local,
regional and national. Bark traded as Lodha/ Pathaani lodha/
Lodhar at Rs.15 to 40/Kg. (Market Studies, 1999-2000). Stem
bark of S. crataegoides and S. cochinchinensis
subsp. laurina used as substitutes.
Mode of
propagation:
By seeds
and stem cuttings
Special
characters:
Fragrant
white flowers and attractive blue fruits are distinguishing
characters.