Anacardium occidentale - Vrikkaphala

Vrikkaphala, Anacardium occidentale

Vrikkaphala or the Cashew nut tree is a moderate sized tree with sprawling branches that is cultivated in India for its nuts. The tree originates in South America

Uses

Skin diseases, Dysentery, hemorrhoids, Anorexia, Hair fall, Worm infestation, General weakness

Parts Used

Leaves, Roots, Fruits, Bark

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	gaeru, gaeru beeja, gaeru kaayi, godambi mara
Hindi	kaju, kaju-ki-gutli
Malayalam	kapa-mava, kapamava, kappa-mavakuru
Tamil	andima, andimangottai, munthri-kottei
Telugu	jaedima-midi, jeedimaamidi, jidi mamidi, jidi-mamidi-vittu
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	agnikrita, arushkara, guchhapushpa, kajutah, kajutaka, vrkkaphalah
English	Cashew nut

Properties

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

Dravya

Rasa

Kashaya (Astringent), Amla (Sour), Madhura (Sweet)

Guna

Guru (Heavy)

Veerya

Sheeta (Cold)

Vipaka

Karma

Kapha, Vata

Prabhava

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Simple	Alternate	6-15.5 x 3-8 cm, obovate; apex obtuse, round or retuse, base acute or cuneate, round, margin entire, glabrous, shiny above, coriaceous; petiole 7-15 mm, stout, swollen at base, glabrous; lateral nerves 10-15 pairs, parallel, prominent, intercostae reticulate, prominent; glands axillary on main nerves and its branches

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
bisexual		Yellow and pink	8-10	terminal prominently bracteate panicles. Calyx 5-partite, lanceolate, imbricate, deciduous, with some pubescence on outside. Petals 5, linear-lanceolate, ligulate, recurved, imbricate; disc filling the base of the calyx, erect. Stamens 8-10, one usually longer than others; filaments connate at the base and adnate to the disc, glandular puberulus. Ovary superior, obovoid or obcordate, 1-celled, ovule 1, ascending from a lateral funicle; style filiform, excentric; stigma minute.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
Nut	2-3 cm long	Fruit a reniform nut, 2-3 cm, grey, seated on a large pyriform fleshy body formed of enlarged disc and top of the pedicel; pericarp gives acrid caustic oil	seed reniform, ascending		{{{6}}}

Other features

How to plant/cultivate

Season to grow

Soil type

Propagation

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area, Coastal area.

Photo Gallery

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External Links

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