Digital Garden

Cordia dichotoma

Lasora

Scientific name- Cordia dichotoma

Common name- Indian Cherry, Gunda, Buhal, Bird Lime Tree, Nona burung, Petekat, Lasura

Family-   Boraginaceae

Habit type- Tree  

Geographical Distribution and general features- C. dichotoma is a tree of tropical and subtropical regions. It grows in the sub-Himalayan tract and outer ranges, ascending up to about 1 500 m elevation. It is found in a variety of forests ranging from the dry deciduous forests of Rajasthan to the moist deciduous forests of Western Ghats and tidal forests in Myanmar. In Maharashtra, it grows in moist monsoon forest also. It does not grow gregariously, but is found growing singly in moist shady ravines and valleys. In areas with annual rainfall less than 500 mm, it thrives along streams or depressions where moisture is available.

Flower: Flowers are short-stalked, bisexual and white in colour, appear in loose corymbose cymes.

Fruits: The fruit is a yellow or pinkish-yellow shining globose or ovoid drupe seated in a saucer-like enlarged calyx. It turns black on ripening and the pulp gets viscid. The hard stone is 1-4 seeded.

Products take in use: 

Food:  The immature fruits are pickled and are also used as a vegetable.

Fodder:  The leaves yield good fodder and are lopped for this purpose. They contain 12-15 % crude protein, 16-27 % crude fibre, 42-53 % nitrogen-free extract, 2-3 % ether extract, 13-17 % total ash, 2-4 % calcium and about 0.3 % phosphorus. The seed kernel of C. dichotoma contains a high proportion of fatty oils and proteins (46 and 31%, respectively) which has potential as cattle feed. 

Fuel:  The tree is used as a fuelwood. 

Timber: The wood is used to make agricultural implements. 

Poison:  Fruit extract of C. dichotoma suppresses larval hatching of Meloidogyne incognita.

Medicine: In India, C. dichotoma is the main element in the polyherbal formulation known as joshandah, which is widely used by the masses to cure a common cold, catarrh, cough, respiratory distress, and fevers. Leaves and stem bark have been used to cure digestive issues, fever, diarrhoea, leprosy, gonorrhoea, and a burning feeling since ancient times. Plant leaf historically demonstrates medicinal applications and activities, including anthelmintic, astringent, and diuretic. Seeds of the species are anti-inflammatory, 2 compounds alpha-amyrin and 5-dirhamnoside have been isolated. The bark is medicinal and several chemicals have been identified; Allantoin, beta -sitosterol and 3',5-dihydroxy4'-methoxy flavanone-7-O- alpha -L-rhamnopyranoside. The seed kernel has medicinal properties.