OF THE WEEK 13TH WEEK 25-04-2015

Symplocos racemosa Roxb.–A critically endangered medicinal plant

Botanical Name : Uses racemosa Roxb. Symplocos racemosa Roxb. is a medicinal plant widely used by the tribal Synonyms : people against various human diseases. It has a wide range of usage in Ay- S. khasiana (C.B.Cl) Brandis. urveda and Unani medicines. S. nicobarica C.B.Cl. Bark of plant contain three principal alkaloids like loturine, loturidine S. racemosa var. khasiana and colloturine. Decoction of the bark is used as a gargle in bleeding C.B.Cl. gums. The drug is useful in digestive disorders, eye diseases and ulcer. It Family : is also used in plasters and applied on wounds for promoting maturation of wounds. Its bark is cooling, light and useful in treating dropsy, elephantia- Local Name sis, filaria, bowel complaints, eye diseases, ulcers, menorrhagia, and leu- Odiya: Lodha corrhoea. The astringent properties are used in diarrhea, dysentery, liver complaints, dropsy, excessive bleeding Hindi, Bengali & Marti : Lodhra during menstruation and other uterine dis- Telugu : Lodhuga orders; also used in ophthalmia and con- junctivitis. Much attention have been paid Tamil : Belli lotai to S. racemosa owing to its antifibrinolytic Bark Gujrat : Lodhara activity and inhibitory activity against snake-venom phosphodiesterase I and some Malayam : Pachotti A single Leaf phenolic compounds as potential candidates for the therapy of arthritis. Kannada : Pachettu Wild population of Symplocos Description Habitat Symplocos racemosa is a critically endangered medici- Widely distributed in tropical & nal plant attaining a height up to 10 m. Source: subtropical regions of the world. Bark : Bark smooth or rough, grey or in young parts

In Odisha it is fairly found in yellowish. Saxsena, H.O. & Brahmam, M. (1994). The Flora of shade place of the semi-evergreen Leaf : Leaves simple, alternate, lanceolate-oblong, forest. Orissa, Vol. II, pp: 1030. oblong, elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, margin serrate, A flowering twig crenate, serrulate or entire, apex acute to acuminate or Distribution obtuse at both ends, surface glabrous or slightly pilose on the midrib. Swain B.K & Das S.K. (2007) Visual guide to wild me- India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myan- dicinal of Orissa, pp 219 . mar, Thailand, , Vietnam. In Flower : Inflorescence is simple or compound racemes, pubescent or hairy. Flowers ac- Odisha this species is found in tinomorphic, bisexual, axillary, white in colour, turning yellow with age. Calyx-lobes Kalidass C (2014):Distribution and population status of Similipal, Patabil, Thakurmunda, broadly oblong-ovate, connate below, puberulous or glabrous. Corolla lobes connate at Takaba, Sanaghagara, Gunasika, a critically endangered species Symplocos ra- base. Stamens many, anthers as broad as long; connective very small. Style-1, fili form, cemosa Roxb. in Eastern Ghats of Odisha .IJAS 27-32 Sambalpur. stigma small, capitate. Ovary inferior or half inferior, 3– locular, one ovule per locule.

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ symplocos racemosa Flowering Time : Oct-Jan Fruit : Drupe purplish black, oblong, crowned by calyx. Seeds straight. Fruiting time : Feb-May

Www.envis.fhrlt.org Conservation Status

Critically Endangered Flower buds