Dichrostachys cinerea - Virataru

Virataru, Dichrostachys cinerea

Virataru, is a deciduous or semi-deciduous shrub or small tree with an open crown; it can grow from 1 - 8 metres tall, with occasional specimens to 12 metres. The plant is covered with spines and is sometimes suckering and thicket-forming. A true multi-purpose tree, providing food, medicines, fuel and various commodities.

Uses

Diarrhea, Excessive thirst, Kidney stones, Gynecological disorders, Urinary retention

Parts Used

Bark, Root, Heartwood

Common names

Language	Common name
Kannada	edathari, oda thare, vaduvaarada gida, vaduvarada
Hindi	goya-khair, kheri
Malayalam	viravrksam, vitattal
Tamil	karukavi, vadataram, vidattalai, vitattali
Telugu	nalla venuturu, velthuru, veluthuru chettu,
Marathi	NA
Gujarathi	NA
Punjabi	NA
Kashmiri	NA
Sanskrit	bahuvaraka, dirghamula, krichhari, kshudhakushalasandnaka, mahakapitha, vallataru, vellantaru, virataruh, viravriksha
English	Sicklebush

Properties

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

Dravya

Rasa

Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent)

Guna

Laghu (Light)

Veerya

Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka

Katu (Pungent)

Karma

Vata and Kapha

Prabhava

Habit

Tree

Identification

Leaf

Kind	Shape	Feature
Bipinnate	alternate	stipulate; stipules 2, minute, lateral; rachis 30-65 mm, slender, pulvinate, pubescent; pinnae 5-15 pairs, 1.5-2 cm, opposite, even pinnate, slender, pulvinate, pubescent, with a gland between each pairs; leaflets 24-50, opposite, sessile, estipellate; lamina 0.2-0.3 x 0.1 cm, oblong, base obtuse, apex acute, margin entire, ciliate, tomentose, chartaceous; nerves obscure.

Flower

Type	Size	Color and composition	Stamen	More information
Polygamous	solitary or axillary spikes	Pink and yellow	10	upper flowers bisexual, yellow; lower ones neutar, pink or purple; bracts oblong; calyx tube campanulate, lobes 5; petals 5, lanceolate connate below, pubescent, valvate; stamens 10, free, exserted, anthers ending in stalked glands; ovary 0.5 mm, subssessile, pubescent; style 3 mm; stigma terminal, truncate.

Fruit

Type	Size	Mass	Appearance	Seeds	More information
A Pod			linear, flat, coiled, continuous within, indehiscent or opening from apex	seeds 4-6, ovoid, compressed.	{{{6}}}

Other features

Mode of Propagation

Seeds, Cuttings.

How to plant/cultivate

Fruits should be collected from the shrub or tree as soon as they are mature, after which the seeds should be extracted. They can be sown directly into the field. Immersion of the seed in water for 24 hours improves the germination rate, as well as scarification. Pre-treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid for 25 minutes gives optimum results, with more than 75% germination of fresh seeds in 3–7 days. Propagation by root suckers and cuttings is easy.

Commonly seen growing in areas

Tropical area.

Photo Gallery

• 

  Flowers

• 

  Flowers

• 

  Leaves and flowers

• 

  Pods

• 

  Seeds

External Links

• [1]
• [2]