Baliospermum montanum - Danti

Danti, Baliospermum montanum

Danti is a subshrub in the castor family that can be found growing in humid areas. This species in globally distributed in Indo-Malesia. Within India, it is distributed throughout from Kashmir eastwards to Meghalaya, up to an elevation of 1000 m. and southwards into Peninsular India, ascending to an altitude of 1800 m. in the Western Ghats.

Uses

Fever, Inflammation, Asthma, Diarrhea, Hemarrhoids, Abdominal pains

Parts Used

Leaves, Roots, Seeds.

Chemical Composition

Steroids, terpenoids and flavonoids are reported in the leaves. The root contains phorbol derivatives.

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	kaduharalu, danti, dantika, naaga danti
Hindi	jangli-jamalgota, hakni, danti,
Malayalam	dantika, katalavanakku, nagadanti
Tamil	kattamankku, shimai-amanakku, appaiccevakacceti
Telugu	erradundiga, ettadundiga, kanaka pata
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	erandaphala, nikumbha, udumbaraparni, madhupushpa
English	Red physic nut

Properties

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

Rasa

Katu (Pungent)

Guna

Guru(Heavy), Tikshna(Sharp)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Kapha, Pitta

Habit

Subshrub

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Alternate	10-15 x 6-10 cm, broadly ovate, often 3-lobed, apex acute or acuminate, base rounded, 3-5 ribbed, glabrous or sparsely hispid above and tomentose along the nerves beneath, inciso-crenate, with a pair of glands at base of lamina; petiole to 6 cm long.

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
unisexual		Greenish	many	Perianth lobes 4, concave, 1.5 mm long, pubescent. Stamens numerous on a central receptacle; filaments slender, connective broad. Ovary densely tomentose, style 2-fid. Flowering and fruiting is from August to March

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
capsule	1.2 cm long	Capsule 3-lobed, 1.2 cm long; seeds ovoid, caruncled	seeds ovoid		{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Punarnavadi guggulu
• Dantyarishtam
• Bahushala guda
• Shiva gutika

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Danti prefers humid climate for better growth. Well-drained sandy loam soils with pH normally ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 are good for its cultivation. But it can also grow in soils with pH up to 8.2. This is a shade loving plant but can be grown in open sun when cultivated. LoCan be easily propagated from seeds and cuttings.

Season to grow

Onset of monsoon

Soil type

Sandy loam

Propagation

Danti can be easily propagated by seeds and terminal cuttings.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area, Sub tropical forest.

Photo Gallery

• 

  Leaves

• 

  Flowers

• 

  Fruits

• 

  Seeds

External Links

• [1]
• [2]
• [3]
• [4]