Holigarna arnottiana Hook. f.

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Family : ANACARDIACEAE

Synonym : Mangifera racemosa Lam.

Common Names : Cherru, Kattucherru

Flowering Period : January – July

Distribution : Southern Western Ghats

Habitat : Semi-evergreen and evergreen forests, also in the plains

Uses : In Ayurveda, the plant is believed to be helpful in treatment of inflammation, arthritis, haemorrhoids, obesity, tumour, cancer, and skin diseases. Wood light grey, soft, light, used for packing cases, cigar cases, boats, dugouts, bullock carts, matchboxes and splints and pencils. All parts of the tree yield a black, caustic, resinous juice which is used as a varnish and for water proofing boats and furniture. It is also used for fixing indelible black patterns on linen and cotton cloth. The black caustic juice which raises blisters can be used as varnish.

Key Characters :

Evergreen trees; bole buttressed; bark pale brown, rough; exudation milky. Leaves simple, alternate, crowded at the tips of branchlets, margin entire, glabrous. Flowers polygamous, yellowish-brown, in axillary panicles, tomentum of inflorescence pale golden brown. Calyx cupular, 5-fid. Petals 5, valvate. Stamens 5, inserted outside the disc; anthers red, versatile. Ovary inferior, stigmas capitate. Fruit a drupe.