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Vateria indica - Ajakarna, Piney
Ajakarna or Vateria indica, the white dammar, is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae[1] family. It is endemic to India. It is threatened by habitat loss. This tree grows like a palm but has blunt thorns along its trunk. Common names are Damar, Badasal,[2] etc
Description
White Damar is a tall tree generally up to 40 m sometimes going up to 60 m. Bark is greyish, smooth; blaze cream. Young branchlets are round, hairy. Branches exude resinous substance. Leaves are simple, alternate, spirallly arranged. Stipules are caducous. Leaf-stalks are 2-3.5 cm, swollen at apex, nearly hairless. Leaves are 8-27 x 4.5-10 cm, elliptic-oblong, tip abruptly long-pointed or blunt, base rounded to somewhat heart-shaped, margin entire, leathery, hairless. Midrib is flat above; secondary nerves 13-20 pairs, curved near margin, impressed above. Flowers are borne in panicles in leaf axils, with dense stellate hairs.[2]
Uses
- The resin extracted by scratching the tree's bark is used as incense in India. The resin is also used as an Ayurvedic medicine. Vateria indica oil is produced from the seeds.
- It is used in chronic bronchitis and throat troubles, piles, diarrhoea and etc.
common names
- English - Piney
- Kannada - ರಾಲಾ
- Hindi - Safed Damar
