Schrebera
swietenioides Roxb.
OLEACEAE
Vernacular names:
Hindi - Moka, Banpalas
Kannada - Mogalinga mara, Gante
Malayalam - Mala plasu
Marathi - Mokadi, Nakti
Sanskrit - Muskakah
Tamil - Magalinga maram, Pasarai
Telugu - Magalinga, Makkam, Tondamukkudi
Threat status:
Vulnerable
(A 1 c) - KA
Data
Deficient - KL & TN
Habit:
Tree
Habitat: Mixed deciduous forests
Altitude:
500 - 1000
m
Distribution: Global: Peninsular India, tropical
Himalayas and Myanmar. National: Occurs throughout India
especially in the drier zones. Regional: In Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu, common in deciduous forests of lower altitudes. In
Kerala, restricted to Cannanore.
Description: Deciduous
tree,
10-20 m tall. Crown somewhat ball-like. Bark grey,
rough, about 8 mm thick, with many protuberances. Blaze
dull white. Branchlets robust, lenticellate. Leaves opposite,
compound, odd-pinnate;
leaflets
opposite,
7-9, elliptic-egg-shaped, 6-10 x 4-5 cm, base unequally
gradually tapering, apex acute, margin entire, leathery,
hairless above, rarely slightly villous below, with distinct
stalks. Flowers bisexual, in terminal and axillary
trichotomous cymes, shortly stalked. Corolla wheel-shaped, about
2 x 1.5 em, white with brown center, covered with brown glands.
Capsules pear-shaped, pendulous, about 5 x 3 em,
woody, 90tted with rough specks, dehiscing by 2-valves.
Seeds many, flat, winged.
Phenology:
Leaf fall:
February
to March; New foliage: March to April; Flowering:
March to June;
Fruiting: March onwards, almost persistent.
Medicinal uses:
Roots,
bark and leaves are useful in treating indigestion, skin
diseases, leprosy, diarrhoea, anemia, boils, burns and rectal
disorders. Bark is used to treat diseases of throat as well as
poisoning. Fruits are used to treat anaemia, bleeding piles and
diabetes.
Trade
information:
Local and
regional. The bark priced at Rs.2.20/ Kg. (Kerala, 1993).
Mode of
propagation:
By seeds
and cuttings
Special
characters:
Flowers
covered with brown glands; woody fruits resembling pears; seeds
are papery and winged.
