Limonia acidissima - Kapitha

Kapitha, Limonia acidissima

Limonia acidissima is the only species within the monotypic genus Limonia. It is native to the Indomalaya ecozone to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and in Indochinese ecoregion east to Java and the Malesia ecoregion.

Uses

Indigestion, Earache, Scurvy, Diabetes, Kidney problems, Liver problems, Snakebites, Malaria, Sore throats.

Parts Used

Fruits, Leaves.

Chemical Composition

Fruit pulp contains large quantity of citric acid and other fruit acids, mucilage and minerals. Leaves contain stigmasterol, psoralen, bergapten, orientin, vitedin, saponarin, tannins and an essential oil

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	Dadhiphala, Nayibel
Hindi	Pushpaphal, Katabel
Malayalam	Vilankai, Vilarmaram
Tamil	Vila, Vilampazam
Telugu	Kapitthhamu
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	Dadhittha, Danthashatha
English	Wood apple, Monkey fruit

Properties

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

Habit

Deciduous tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Pinnate	alternate	Imparipinnate, alternate, 1-3 in a cluster, estipulate; rachis 60-80 mm long, stout, glabrous, often narrowly winged; leaflets 4-7, opposite, sessile, estipellate; lamina 1.3-3.8 × 1.3 cm, obovate, base cuneate or acute, apex obtuse, margin entire, glabrous, pellucid-punctate, coriaceous; lateral nerves pinnate, obscure, intercostae obscure.

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Polygamous	1-3 cm across	Yellow	10-12	dull red, 1.3 cm across, in axillary cymes; calyx small, flat, 5-toothed, pubescent with out, deciduous; petals 5, free, spreading; stamens 10-12, inserted round the disc; filaments dilated below, villous on face and margins; anthers linear-oblong; disc thick, annular, pubescent; pistillode short; ovary superior, oblong, 5-6-celled, at length 1-celled, ovules many; stigma oblong, fusiform.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
Berry	5-7.6 cm across		globose, whitish-brown, rind hard and woody; seeds many, embedded in pulp	many	{{{6}}}

List of Ayurvedic medicine in which the herb is used

• Nyagrodhadi churna
• Dashamoolarishta

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

A plant of the drier tropical and subtropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 450 metres

Commonly seen growing in areas

Dry plains, Himalayas.

Photo Gallery

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External Links

• Surprising Benefits Of Wood Apple Or Bael Fruit
• glob in med.com
• Constituents of Limonia acidissima inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide production