Alangium salviifolium

(L. f.) Wangerin

Sage-leaved Alangium

Cornaceae Edible: Fruit, Kernel, Seeds, Nuts, Flowers 557 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Alangium salviifolium, commonly known as sage-leaved alangium, is a flowering plant in the Cornaceae family. It is also commonly known as udugu chettu in Telugu, Ankolam in Malayalam, Ankola in Kannada, Akola or Ankol in Hindi and Alanji in Tamil. In India, Its mostly found in dry regions in plains and low hills and also found on roadsides.

Description

A shrub or tree. It is often straggling. The bark is thick, grey and fibrous. The branches are slender and usually have thorns. The leaves have short stalks. They are entire and vary in shape. They are 8-15 cm long. They are hairy when young. They become smooth on the top surface. The flowers have short stalks. They are small and greenish-white. They have a sweet scent. They occur singly or in clusters along the twigs. There are 5-10 petals that are narrow and hairy. The fruit is a smooth berry. It is green but turns red or black at maturity. It has a single seed. The fruit pulp is sweet but has an unpleasant taste.

Edible Uses

The ripe sweet fruit pulp is eaten raw. The kernel of the seed is also eaten.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are sweet and edible. The pulp is eaten raw. The kernel of the seed is eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

In Ayurveda the roots and the fruits are used for the treatment of rheumatism and haemorrhoid. Externally, it is used for the treatment of bites by rabbits, rats, and dogs. The root-bark is also used in traditional medicine skin problems and as an antidote for snake bite. The root-bark is also used to expel parasitic worms (Platyhelminthes) and other internal parasites from the body. It is used as an emetic and purgative as well. The wood is said to be hard and close-grained because of which good finishing is possible. It is used to make ornamental work, pestles and rollers and also is good as a fuel wood. The stems because of its sharp ends are used as a spear in Kenya. The twigs are also used as toothbrush in India. It is considered to be good for making musical instruments and for making furniture as well.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropics. In southern China it grows in forests below 1,200 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Comoros, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Propagation

Seed - Cuttings of half ripe wood.

Other Uses

The twigs are used for brushing the teeth. A mixture of the mature fruits, combined with honey and the roots of sweet flag (Acorus calamus), is used as a pesticide to manage pests on agricultural crops. A non-edible oil from the seeds is used as an illuminant. The brown wood is close grained and heavy. Its density varies widely from 440 - 1,100 kg/m³ at 15% moisture. It air dries well without checking, works well, bends easily and takes a good finish. It is not durable and should not be used for exterior purposes, especially when in contact with the ground. The wood is valued for musical instruments and furniture in India; it is used in construction for beams and flooring; cabinet work, inlaying, carving, bobbins, spindles, pestles, oil mills, shuttles, rice pestles, tool handles, walking sticks, gunstocks and handicraft articles. The stems are traditionally used for making spears in Kenya.

Production

The fruit are available from April to June in India.

Other Information

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Notes

There are 17-20 Alangium species. This one is used in medicine. Also put in the family Alangiaceae.

Synonyms

Alangium acuminatum Wight ex Steud. [Invalid]Alangium decapetalum Lam.Alangium lamarckii ThwaitesAlangium latifolium Miq. ex C.B.ClarkeAlangium mohillae Tul.Alangium salviifolium subsp. decapetalum (Lam.) WangerinAlangium salviifolium subsp. salviifoliumAlangium sundanum var. miqueliana KurzAlangium tomentosum Lam.Grewia salviifolia L.f.Karangolum mohillae (Tul.) KuntzeKarangolum salviifolium (L.f.) Kuntze

Also Known As

Aakna, Aakola, Akar-kanta, Akol, Akola, Alangi, Ankar, Ankol, Ankola, Ankolamu, Ankole, Ankoli, Ankollam, Ankora, Ankota, Ankul, Ankula, Ankulo, Ankura, Ankwal, Ansaroli, Azhingi, Bagh-ankura, Dhala dari, Dhalanga, Irinjil, Onkla, Ooduga, Wait sesatak, Wangerin

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BARC, 2016, State of Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council.
Basha, S. K. M., Ethnobotanical Trees of Sri Lanka Malleswara Wildlife Sanctuary; Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh.

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