| Horitaki a medium to large sized
deciduous tree, Terminalia chebula, of the family Combretaceae,
growing naturally in the forests of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Chittagong
Hill Tracts, Dhaka, and Tangail. It is also planted as an avenue tree.
It usually attains a height of 15 to 20m and has a diameter of
50 to 80 cm. It has a rounded crown and spreading branches. Bark
is grey or almost black, and is thick, having numerous vertical
cracks. Leaves are ovate or elliptic. Fruits are drupaceous, one-seeded,
and the pericarp is rather hard, leathery and fibrous even on
ripening, 2.5 to 5 cm long, and elongated and tapered at both
ends. Fruits turn yellowish green when ripe and when chewed has
a bitter taste with a characteristic pungent smell. The kernels
of the seeds are eaten. The timber is very hard and fairly durable.
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Horitaki tree (Green and dried horitaki)
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Horitaki is a very important medicinal plant. It is used
to produce the Ayurvedic recipe- Triphola. The unripe fruit is
considered as a useful medicine for diarrhoea and dysentery.
The dried fruits constitute one of the most important vegetable tanning
materials available. Timber is used for building construction as well
as for agricultural and other materials like carts, axles, yokes, naves,
furniture, and shelves. The wood is suitable for the manufacture of good
quality tool handles.
[Md Mahfuzur Rahman]
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