Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn.

നീര്‍മരുത്

Family : Combretaceae

Synonym : Terminalia cuneata Roth

Common Names : Neermaruth, Vellamaruthu, Arjun tree, White murdah

Flowering Period : November – June

Distribution : India and Sri Lanka

Habitat : Dry deciduous forests

Uses : Arjun holds a reputed position in both Ayurvedic and Yunani Systems of medicine. According to Ayurveda it is alexiteric, styptic, tonic, anthelmintic, and useful in fractures, ulcers, heart diseases, biliousness, urinary discharges, asthma, tumours, leucoderma, anaemia, excessive perspiration etc. According to Yunani system of medicine, it is used both externally and internally in gleet and urinary discharges.

Key Characters :

Bole often buttressed; bark surface pinkish-grey; exudation red, gummy; branchlets drooping. Leaves simple, opposite to alternate. Flowers bisexual, dull yellow, in short axillary spikes; calyx tube, lobes 5, cream; disc 5-lobed; petals 0; stamens 10, in 2 rows; ovary ovoid, inferior, pubescent, 1-celled; ovules 2 or 3, pendulous. Fruit is a winged drupe; seed one.