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Pithraj Tree
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Pithraj Tree
ative Photo: Shaista Ahmad
Common name: Pithraj Tree • Hindi: हरिनहर्रा Harin-hara, Harinkhana • Marathi: Raktharohida • Tamil: malampuluvan, sem, semmaram • Malayalam: Chemmaram, sem • Manipuri: ꯍꯩꯔꯥꯡꯈꯣꯢ Heirang khoi • Telugu: Chevamanu, Rohitaka • Kannada: ಮುಖ್ಯಮುತ್ತಗೆ Mukhyamuttage, ಮುಳ್ಳುಮುತ್ತುಗ Mullumuttaga, Mulluhitthalu, ರೋಹಿತಕ Rohithaka, ಹೊಟ್ಟೆನೊಳ Hottenola, ತೊಟ್ಟಿಲೆ Tottile, ತೊಟ್ಟೆಲೆ Tottele • Bengali: Tiktaraj • Kuki: Sahala • Khasi: Dieng rata • Rongmei: Agan • Assamese: hakhori bakhori • Sanskrit: anavallabha, ksharayogya, lakshmi, lakshmivana, lohita • Mizo: Lamzawl, Thingthupui, Sahatah
Botanical name: Aphanamixis polystachya    Family: Meliaceae (Neem family)
Synonyms: Aglaia polystachya, Amoora rohituka, Andersonia rohituka
Pithraj Tree is a deciduous tree native to India, growing to 20-30 m tall. Leaves are odd- or even- pinnate, 30-60 cm long, with 9-21 leaflets. Leaflets are oblong-elliptic, elliptic, or ovate, 17-26 × 4-10 cm with basal pair smallest, leathery when mature, with visible transparent tiny spots under sunlight. Base of the leaflets is oblique, margin entire. Flower clusters occur in leaf axils, less than a foot long. Flowers are 6-7 mm in diameter, with 3 bracteoles. Flowers have 5 nearly curcular sepals, 1-1.5 mm across. Petals are 3-7 mm in diameter, concave. Staminal tube is spherical, smooth. Anthers are 5 or 6, oblong. Capsule is sort of ovoid, 2-2.5 × 2.5-3 cm, orangish when mature. Seeds are greyish brown. Pithraj Tree is found in East Himalaya, Peninsular India, China and SE Asia. Flowering: May-September.
Medicinal uses: Bark is used in spleen, liver diseases, tumour and abdominal complaints. Seed-oil is used in rheumatism.
Identification credit: Navendu Pāgé Photographed in Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore and Sundar Nursery, Delhi.
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