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Albizia amara - Krishnasirish

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Krishnasirish, Albizia amara

Albizia amara is a small to moderate-sized, much-branched deciduous tree. it can grow up to 15 metres tall. It has a smooth, dark green, scaly bark. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, source of wood and other materials.

Uses

Hairfall, Dandruff, Piles, Diarrhea, Gonorrhoea, Leprosy, Boils, Burns, Cough, Malaria, Ulcers [1]

Parts Used

Leaves, Bark, Pods, Seeds[2].

Chemical Composition

The seed extract showed DNA binding activity, which has been found to be due to pithecolibine alkaloids, budmunchiamines. The leaves contain prodelphinidins, myricitrin, hyperin, quercitrin, transp-coumaric acid, cis-p-coumaric acid and trans-ferulic acid. The seeds contain echinocystic acid and taxifolin--O-beta-D xylopyranosyl-beta-D-arbinopyranoside.[3]

Common names

Language Common name
Kannada Balukambi, Beelkambi, Chigare
Hindi Kalisirish
Malayalam Chalavagai, Oosulay, Sulivaka
Tamil Arappu, Arappumaram
Telugu Chigara, Chikkareni
Marathi Lulai, Loullei, Thugli
Gujarathi NA
Punjabi NA
Kashmiri NA
Sanskrit Krishnasirish
English Bitter Albizia

[4]

Properties

Reference: Dravya - Substance, Rasa - Taste, Guna - Qualities, Veerya - Potency, Vipaka - Post-digesion effect, Karma - Pharmacological activity, Prabhava - Therepeutics.[5]

Dravya

Rasa

Kashaya (Astringent), Tikta (Bitter), Madhura (Sweet)

Guna

Laghu (Light to Digest), Rooksha (Dry), Teekshna (Enters deep tissues)

Veerya

Ishat Ushna (Slightly hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Prabhava

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind Shape Feature
Bipinnate Alternate Stipulate; stipules minute, free, lateral, lanceolate, cauducous; rachis 3-15 cm, slender, pulvinate, with a gland near the base on the upper side, yellow tomentose.

[6]

Flower

Type Size Color and composition Stamen More information
Bisexual Heads solitary or 2-3 in axillary fascicles Pale yellow 6-8 mm long; peduncle to 5 cm, slender, densely pubescent; bracts to 5 mm, cauducous Flowering season: March - November

Fruit

Type Size Mass Appearance Seeds More information
Pods 10-24 x 2.5-4 cm Flat, greyish-brown, veiny, straight or wavy along margin, base and apex rotund, horned, indehiscent Seeds 6-13, compressed, ovate-orbicular Fruiting season: March - November

Other features

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

Where to get the saplings

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings

How to plant/cultivate

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. Germination rate is about 80%. [7]

Commonly seen growing in areas

Dry deciduous forest, Tropical area, Dry area

Photo Gallery

References

  1. Morphology
  2. ”Karnataka Medicinal Plants Volume-3” by Dr.M. R. Gurudeva, Page No.433, Published by Divyachandra Prakashana, #6/7, Kaalika Soudha, Balepete cross, Bengaluru
  3. Chemistry
  4. Common names
  5. Ayurvedic Properties - Easy Ayurveda
  6. Morphology
  7. Cultivation

External Links