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State Medicinal Plants Board (SMPB) Kerala

Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

  • Family: Fabaceae
  • Vernacular names: Chamatha, Plasu, ചമത, പ്ളാശ് (Malayalam), Flame of the forest (English), Palasha (Sanskrit), Dhak (Hindi), Porasu (Tamil)
  • Distribution: Tropical Asia
  • Description: Small deciduous trees. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate. Flowers bisexual, bright red, in terminal or axillary, densely fascicled, raceme. Fruit a pod, oblong; seed obovate, compressed.
  • Habit: Tree
  • Habitat: Deciduous forests, also grown in the plains
  • Flowering & Fruiting: March-April

  • Parts used: Bark, leaves, flowers, seeds and resin
  • Properties & Uses: Aphrodisiac, digestive and anthelmintic. Juice from bark is applied to ulcers and to relieve septic sore throat. The gum is applied to bruises, inflammations and ring worm. The stem bark is used to treat bone fracture, ulcer, tumours, colic, bleeding piles, dysentery and intestinal worms. Decoction of the bark is used in asthma, fever, cough and other respiratory problems.
  • Systems of Medicines: Ayurveda, Folk, Unani,
  • Traditional Uses:The exudates from the cut bark is applied to ulcer and fresh wounds for healing. The crushed bark boiled with water and the decoction is taken internally to cure cough and cold.
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