Chandigarh Forests
Department of Forest & Wildlife
UT Administration
Chandigarh
Department of Forest & Wildlife
|
Division
|
Angiosperms |
|
Class
|
Dicotledons |
|
Subclass
|
Polypetalae |
|
Series |
Calyciflorae |
|
Order |
Myrtales |
|
Family |
Leycythidaceae |
|
Genus |
Barringtonia |
|
Species |
acutangula |
|
Etymology:
|
In honour of Daines Barrington (1727-1800), an English naturalist. |
|
Botanical name:
|
Barringtonia acutangula (Linn.) Gaertn. |
|
Local/Trade names: |
Hijal, Ingar |
|
Conservation status:
|
Commonly cultivated in gardens. Also found wild in North-east India. |
|
Digonestic features: |
Flowers in a 15-20 cm long raceme. |
|
Description: |
A medium-sized tree. Bark rough, grey, longitudinally furrowed. Leaves crowded towards the ends of the branches, 6-15 x 3-7.5 cm, obovate-oblong or oblanceolate, crenate or denticulate Flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter, deep scarlet, scented, many-flowered racemes, 15-20 cm long. Fruit 2.5 cm long, oblong, bluntly quadrangular. |
|
Phenology:
|
Fls.: May-June. Frts.: August-Sept. Leaves shed new leaves in March-April. |
|
Distribution:
|
Throughout the India. Sri Lanka. |
|
Where to see it: |
Near Energy Park. |
|
Uses: |
Tender leaves edible. Bark, roots, and seeds employed as fish-poison; they probably contain saponin. Powdered seed used as an emetic and expectorant. Leaves and roots are bitter tonics. Bark contains tannin (16%). Wood used for boat-building and cabinet work. |
