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Bohera a large and tall deciduous tree, Terminalia
belerica, locally known as Bahera or Boyra, of the family
Combretaceae, attaining a height of 15 to 22 m and a diameter of about
one metre or more. Large trees are often buttressed at the base. The bark
is bluish or ashy grey. Leaves are broadly elliptic and clustered towards
the ends of branches. It grows in the forests of the chittagong
hill tracts, and in the Sal forest regions of Dhaka, Tangail,
and Mymensingh. The wood
is moderately heavy and durable.
The fruits can be eaten, but is more commonly and largely
used in indigenous medical purposes. Traditionally it has been used as
washing detergent. It is one of the best sources of tannin. The kernel
is edible but has narcotic properties. The pulp of the fruit
is used in treating diarrhoea and leprosy. Half-ripped fruits are used
as purgative. The oil extracted from the seeds is useful as a hair tonic.
The wood is used in carpentry. [Md Mahfuzur Rahman]
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