Chhatiana

Names of Chhatiana or Blackboard tree

Chhatiana is called Blackboard tree, Devil tree or Indian devil tree, Ditabark, Palmira Alstonia, Milkwood, White Pine, Milky pine or Milkwood pine, White cheesewood in English. It is called  Shaitan ka jhar, Satvan, Chatiun, Chattiyan, Satni in Hindi, Chhatim or Chatnia in Bengali, Satiana or Sotiana in Asameses,  Satvinin Gujarati and Marathi, pala, Tirunamappalai, Captaparanam, Elilai-p-palai, Mukumpalai in Tamil, Devasurippi, Edakula-pala, Elaramu, Pala-garuda in Telugu, Yakshipala, Daivappala , Elilampala, Kotapala, Mangalappala, Mukkan-pala in Malayalam, Elelehale, Kodale, Mudihale, Pale, Bantale, Haale in Kannada, Kashim in Urdu. In Sanskrit it is called Saptaparna,Vishala tvak, Vishamacchada, Devavirshika, Bahuparna, Gandhiparna, Grahanasha, Guchhapushpa, Jivani, Madagandha, Munichhada, Palagaruda, Shalmalipatraka, Sharadipushpa, and Suparnaka. In Oriya we call it Chhatiana.

Bud of chhatiana

The botanical name is Alstonia scholaris or Echites scholaris or Pala scholaris. The tree has got its generic name from the renowned 18th century botanist, Prof. C. Alston of Edinburgh University. The specific name scholarisis derived from the traditional use of the wood for slates or school boards in Myanmar.

 Palmira Alstonia flower,

Chhatiana is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is evergreen. It is a tall tree that grows up to around 50 to 80 feet height with high, glabrous trunk. The bark is grayish. Branches are whorled, and so are the leaves. The slightly rounded at the apex, leathery, dark green leaves form whorls of 3-10. The upper side of the leaves is glossy, while the underside is grayish. White funnel-shaped strongly perfumed flowers bloom in the month October. The flowers are crowded, numerous, somewhat hairy, and are a colour blend of white, cream and green; about 1 centimeter long, hairy in the throat. The seeds are oblong, with ciliated margins, and ends with tufts of hairs 1.5–2 cm. The tree has regular branches and of a very symmetrical shape. The bark and leaves produce a milky latex when injured, which is toxic. All parts of the tree can be considered poisonous.The bark is very bitter in taste. Ditamine is a useful alkaloid obtained from this tree. That’s why it is also called Ditabark. Leaves are generally found in the group of seven. That is why it is called Saptaparni in Sanskrit and some other Indian languages also because Sapta means seven and parnimeans leaves. The fruition period is late winter season i.e. January to February.

It naturally grows in lowland rain forest particularly in cyclone prone areas and is widely found in the countries of India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vietnam and Australia. It is found in almost all parts of India. It grows better under moist, warm climate but cannot stand water logging. The wood is soft and suitable for pulp and paper production. The timber is used for pattern making, packing, slates, boxes, corks, blackboards, coffins, core stock, plywood, carving and mouldings etc.

The tree is highly medicinal and is immensely valuable from Ayurvedic point of view.

Chatnia Tree

It is Anticancer, Antimicrobicidal, analgesic, febrifuge, stimulant, Antimalarial, antiamoebic, antidiarrheal, antihypertensive,  hepato-protective, immune-modulatory, anti-asthmatic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, anti-diabetic, Anti-pyretic and cardiotonic.

In Ayurveda the bark and milk exudates is used solely for medicinal purposes, ranging from Malaria and epilepsy to skin disorders and Asthma, Foul Wounds, Sinus, Dyspepsia,Urticaria, Bowel Complaints, Cough, Leprosy, Toothache, Rheumatism, and for upper purification process of Panchakarma in Ayurveda. The bark and latex is considered tonic and antiseptic. The bark is used in chronic diarrhoea and advanced stages of dysentery.  It’s a blood purifier. The Milky juice of the tree and the Poultice of young leaves are applied to ulcers. A decoction of the leaves is used for treating beriberi, dropsy and congested liver. The bark is used for making medicine in Homeopathy; In Homeopathy also it is particularly useful for chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. In Ayurveda, infusion of bark soaked overnight is used in treatment of diabetes.The bark serves as an alternative to quinine without its side effects. The bark is also used as an antidote to snake bite.

N.B👉. All the above is solely for informational purpose and NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF MEDICAL ADVICE. A REGD. AYURVEDIC/MEDICAL PRACTITIONER SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSULTED FOR IT.

Touch-me-not

Sleeping Grass flower,

Names of  plant  Touch me Not (Mimosa pudica) in different languages

Touch me Not is also called Sensitive Plant, Humble Plant, Prayer Plant and Sleeping Grass.

- It is called Lajwanti, Lajouni and Chui-mui in Hindi

- Lajjabati and Laajak in Bengali

- Nilajban in Assamese

- Kangphal or Ikaithabi in Manipuri

- laajari or laajaalu in Marathi

- Reesamani in Gujrati 

- Tottalavaadi or Thottaccurungiin Tamil

- Tintarmani, Teattavatior Thottavaadi in Malayalam

- Attaapatti in Telugu

- Nachike Mullu, Muttidare Muni in Kannada

- In Sanskrit it is called Lajjalu, Shamipatra,Sankochani, Raktamoola, Raktapaadi, Samangaa, Khadiraka, Namaskaari, Gandhakari, Prarochani  etc.

 -We call it Lajkuli or Lajkuri lata in my mother tongue Oriya.

The Botanical name is Mimosa pudica L. (Mimosaceae family)

 

Tintarmani,Attaapatti,

 

 

Chui-mui,Laajak

 

Har Shingar

Etymology and Names of Paarijat or coral jasmin

Har shingar is also called Coral Jasmine, Tree of Sorrow, Queen of the night and Night-flowering Jasmine. It is called Har shingar, Shefali, Paarijat  in Hindi, Shefali  and  Shiuli in Bengali, Singarei in Manipuri , Hkhewaliin Assamese , Pagadamalle in Telugu , Pavizhamalli or pavala malli in Tamil, Goli in Kannada , Paarijatam in Malayalam. In Sanskrit it is called Parijata, Prajakta, Vijaya, Subaha, Nalakumkumaka, , Suklangi, Chakrabrinta, Kharapatraka,  Rajanihasa, Nisahasa, Praharshini, Pravalanalika, Vathari, Bhoothakeshi, Seetamanjari, Ragapushpi Nishipushpika. In Oriya we call it Ganga shiuli, Shingda hara, Shefali or Jhara Shefali.

 

Night-flowering Jasmine 

Its botanical name is Nyctanthes arbortristis and it belongs to the Oleaceae i.e. Jasmine family. Nyctanthes arbortristis literally means, night-blooming sad tree. The tree is also called the "tree of sorrow", because the flowers drop from their branches in the morning.

 

It’s generally native to southern Asia and it is a common flower in countries of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand.  

 

 Shefali, Paarijat, 

 

It grows as a shrub or a small tree up to 10 m. tall, with a gray or greenish, rough and flaky bark.  Leaves are simple, opposite, oval with pointed tips, 6–12 cm long and 2–6.5 cm broad, toothed at the edges and rough like sandpaper on the upper surface. The flowers are very sweet scented with waxy white, star-like petals and an orange-red tube in center which bloom in clusters. The flowers open at dusk and drop at dawn. The fruit is flat brown heart-shaped, 2 cm diameter and two seeded.

 

The flowers are used as yellow dye for clothing and the oil extracted from the flower is made perfume. 

 

har singar tree.

Every part of the tree is very useful and contains great ayurvedic/medicinal property. It is expectorant, bitter, tonic, febrifuge and is used to treat anxiety, restlessness, headache, gastritis, hepatitis, diarrhea, vertigo and dysmenorrhoea. It is used in the treatment of fungal skin infection, dry cough, and bronchitis and as an antidote for snakebites.  The flowers are bitter, astringent, ophthalmic, stomachic, carminative, diuretic, anti-bilious, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, sedative, antifilarial and it cures arthritis. The decoction of flowers is used in treating gout. The leaves are used as a laxative. Paste of the leaves is used in skin related troubles, especially ringworm. The leaves are boiled in mustard oil and it is used externally for treating ringworm. The leaf juice is mixed with common salt or misri to treat intestinal worms. For gynecological problems 3 fresh leaves blended with 5 black peppers is taken. If 3-4 leaves are crushed to a fine paste and are boiled with water (the decoction or quatha called in Ayurveda); the water extract taken twice daily cures sciatica, swelling and pain. Juice of leaves taken with honey cures dry cough. Take a handful of leaves with 2-3 leaves of tulsi and boil in water and take two tbsp thrice daily to cure any kind of fever. The seeds are antibacterial and antifungal. The seed paste is externally applied on the piles. The decoction of its seeds is used as a hair tonic. Washing hair daily with this tonic helps to get rid of dandruff and lice.  The bark is anti-microbial. The stem isantipyretic and antioxidant. 200 ml. decoction made from the leaves, barks, flower (when boiled with water and reduces to ¼ of initial quantity) cures arthritis.

 Nyctanthes arbortristis

 

 

I’ll relate one of my personal experiences of the efficacy of the wonderful property of this plant. Around ten years ago during my stay at Cuttack once I suffered from viral fever. The fever subsided after one week. But intermittent slow temperature and feverish feeling continued. I kept taking medicine. After one month I grew tired of them. I asked our housemaid to collect me some leaves of Har shingar tree. She gave it to me. I washed them and boiled them with 1 glass water. When the water was reduced to 1 cup I took it out and let it cool down. Then I crushed the boiled leaves a bit and extracted the water. I took it simply even without honey or Tulsi thrice daily for two or three days. My fever, temperature everything was completely cured without any further medication. I have tried and have got the good result. It has no side effect at all. It’s the miracle medicine for all kinds of fever no doubt. 

N.B.👉All the above is solely for informational purpose and NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE ANY KIND OF MEDICAL ADVICE. A REGD. AYURVEDIC/MEDICAL PRACTITIONER SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSULTED FOR IT.