Terminalia bellirica

Terminalia bellirica, known as bahera, beleric or bastard myrobalan, is a large deciduous tree in the family Combretaceae. It is common on the plains and lower hills in South and Southeast Asia, where it is also grown as an avenue tree. The basionym is Myrobalanus bellirica Gaertn. (Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 90, t. 97. 1791). William Roxburgh transferred M. bellirica to Terminalia as "T. bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb.". This spelling error is now widely used, causing confusion. The correct name is Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.

Description

A tall tree which loses its leaves during the year. It grows to 50 m tall and can be 3.5 m across. As a young tree it is narrow, upright and compact but develops buttresses and becomes more spreading with age. The branches come out in layers and are short. Young leaves can be bronze and old leaves turn bright red before falling. The leaves have long stalks. They are alternate. They are 9-26 cm long by 5-14 cm wide. They are mostly at the ends of branches. They are oval and leathery. The base is narrowed and unequal. The flowers do not have stalks. They are yellowish and in slender spikes in the axils of leaves. They have a strong odour. The fruit is oval and has a hard covering over the seed. It is woody and 2-3 cm across. The fruit is covered with brownish velvety hairs.

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible but should be consumed only in small quantities, as eating them in larger amounts can produce narcotic effects — they are possibly toxic or narcotic. The dark red fruits are edible, smooth-skinned, about 3cm in diameter, subacid with a pleasant flavour, and can be used to make preserves.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: The kernels although eaten may have poisonous affects. It is probably the fruit that have a purgative effect. The kernels are eaten in small amounts after roasting. They taste like almonds. The fruit are used for making preserves. They can be eaten raw but are bitter. The bark is fermented into a type of wine.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit contains anthraquinones and tannins and is anthelmintic, astringent (particularly when ripe), digestive, tonic and laxative (particularly when unripe). It is used internally mainly for digestive and respiratory problems. In Indian herbal medicine, the ripe fruit treats diarrhoea and indigestion, while the unripe fruit is used as a laxative for chronic constipation. The fruit is also used for upper respiratory tract infections causing sore throats, hoarseness and coughs. Externally, it is prepared as a lotion for sore eyes. The sour fruits are one of three ingredients in 'triphala', an Ayurvedic rejuvenative laxative tonic also containing the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula.

Known Hazards

Seeds are possibly toxic or narcotic; consuming more than small quantities can produce narcotic effects.

Distribution

A tropical plant. In Nepal is grows to about 1100 m altitude. They are common in mixed forests throughout India. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 90-300 cm. It can tolerate most soils. It does best in deep sandy loams that are well drained. It can tolerate drought and withstand frosts. In southern China it grows between 540-1,350 m altitude. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. It helps to soak seeds in warm water for 24-36 hours before planting. The whole fruit is sown and if kept watered germinates in 1-2 months. Fruit fed to cattle allow the seed to pass through and these germinate quickly. Plants are best at a spacing of 5 m. It can be grown from stem cuttings of 1 year old branches with 2-3 nodes. Rooting hormone helps.

Propagation

Pre-soaking seed in cold water for 24 hours before sowing has been reported to improve germination. Buried seeds have a better chance of successful germination. Fresh seeds germinate at a high rate of 85–100%, though this declines rapidly in stored seed. Germination requires ample moisture and typically takes 2–5 weeks. Seed is usually sown in nursery seedbeds but can be sown directly in the field under favourable conditions. When raising seedlings in a nursery, transplanting before the taproot develops is strongly preferable and mostly successful. Clipping roots and shoots significantly checks growth, and stumping is not advised.

Other Uses

The bark is used for making a dye. Dried fruits contain 20–25% tannin. A dye from the fruits is used with iron sulphate to dye black cloth and matting, as a cheaper substitute for indigo, and for making ink. The leaves are also a source of tannins. Seeds yield about 40% of a clear yellow oil composed of 12% palmitic acid, 16% stearic acid, 43% oleic acid and 29% linoleic acid, used as hair oil and in soap manufacture. An excellent soap can be made using 60% of this oil combined with 25% coconut oil and 15% groundnut oil. The trunk produces a considerable quantity of insoluble gum. The timber is yellowish-grey, lacking heartwood, light to moderately heavy, fairly straight-grained and very coarse-textured. It is not durable and very prone to insect attack, though durability reportedly improves when the wood is immersed in water. Generally considered of little value, it is used for construction and agricultural implements, particularly where other timber is scarce or costly. Large stems are used for dugout canoes. The wood is valued for fuel and charcoal production.

Production

Seedling growth is slow. Trees can be 8 m high in 6-7 years. Trees flower and fruit regularly. The dry kernel is 47% oil. In northeastern India fruit occur between December and February. In southern China plants flower in March to April and fruit May to July.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 200-250 Terminalia species. They are tropical. It is used in medicine.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Badero, Bahada, Bahare, Baheda, Bahera, Bahid, Bahira, Barado, Barain, Barra, Barro, Baru, Bedda nut tree, Behada, Behado, Behda, Beheda, Behedo, Beleric, Belliric Myrobalan, Bhairah, Bhara, Bharla, Bhaora, Bhomora, Bohera, Boirah, Boyra, Bulu, Hroirwk, Jaha kebo, Jaha sapi, Jaha, Jelawai, Kuru, Lokyo, Mai-mahen, Mai-naw, Makalaw, Mentalun, Myrobalm, Pohon ketapang kabakebo, Samaw pipek, Sargona, Shaanthi kaayi, Tani, Tawitho, Thaanni, Thiag-riang, Thani, Thing-van-dawt, Thit-seint, Vibhitaki

References (85)

• Acharya K. P. and Acharya, R., 2010, Eating from the Wild: Indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants in Parroha VDC of Rupandehi District, Central Nepal. International Journal of Social Forestry. 3(1):28-48
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 627
• Angami, A., et al, 2006, Status and potential of wild edible plants of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge 5(4) October 2006, pp 541-550
• Arinathan, V., et al, 2007, Wild edibles used by Palliyars of the western Ghats, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 6(1) pp 163-168
• Aryal, K. P., et al, 2018, Diversity and use of wild and non-cultivated edible plants in the Western Himalaya. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:10

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