Cordia dichotoma

Cordia dichotoma is a species of flowering tree in the family Cordiaceae, that is native to the Indomalayan realm, northern Australia, and western Melanesia. Common names in English include fragrant manjack, clammy cherry, glue berry tree and Indian cherry.

Description

A medium sized tree, that loses its leaves at some times of the year. They are 5 to 15 m high. It can grow up to 27 m tall and be 50 cm across in the trunk. The tree has spreading branches. The bark is 2 cm thick and grey. It is deeply cracked. The leaves are alternate, smooth and pointed at both ends. They have 2-3, easy to see, veins. The veins are hairy on the underside. They are 5-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 3-4 cm long. The flowers are white or yellow, and borne in flower clusters at the ends of branches. The flower clusters are 1-5 cm across, while individual flowers are 2 mm across. The flowers are orange, and funnel shaped at the base. Male and both sex flowers occur on separate trees. The fruit are yellowish white or pink, and soft but with a hard stone. They are 2 cm across and contain a sticky juice. The fruit is sweet and edible.

Edible Uses

The sweet fruit is eaten fresh, especially by children, and sold in markets. The seeds, leaves, flowers, and oil are also edible portions of this cultivated food plant.

Traditional Uses

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Egypt, Fiji, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Marquesas, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Timor-Leste, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam,

Medicinal Uses

The immature fruits are used in South Asian pickles, and as a vegetable fodder. The leaves yield good fodder. The fruits of C. dichotoma are edible. 'Joshanda' is a Unani herbal medicine, known for its ability to manage colds, coughs, sore throats, nasal congestion, respiratory problems, and fevers. It consists of seeds of 'Khatmi' (Althaea officinalis), fruits of 'Sapistan' (Cordia dichotoma), dried rhizomes of 'mulethi '(Glycyrrhiza glabra), seeds of 'Khubbazi' (Malva rotundifolia), leaves of 'Gaozaban' (Onosma bracteatum), flowers of Banafsha (Viola odorata) and the dried fruits of 'Unnab' (Ziziphus jujuba). Its fruits of C. dichotoma are a rich source of polysaccharides and are potential sources of phytochemicals with antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

Known Hazards

The fruits are used to stupefy fish.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows near rainforests and near the coast. It suits humid locations. It can tolerate wind and salt spray. It is very sensitive to frost. It requires a well drained soil, in a sunny position. They are common and widely distributed in secondary forest and open places at low altitudes in the Philippines. In Nepal it grows between 300-1400 m altitude. In India is grows in all warmer parts of the subcontinent. It can grow in arid places. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Open woods on slopes, mountain streamsides. Found in a variety of forests ranging from the dry deciduous to moist deciduous and tidal forests as well as in moist monsoon forest. Grows singly in moist shady ravines and valleys.

Cultivation

The fruit are eaten especially by children. The fruit are sold in markets. It is a cultivated food plant.

Propagation

Seed - sow direct into containers, beds or trays. Germination starts in about 3 - 4 weeks and is complete in 6 weeks. The germination process can be sped up if the seed is first scarified by lightly abrading the seedcoat to allow easier ingress of water. Seedlings should be potted up as soon as the first pair of true leaves have formed. At lower altitudes, seedlings large enough to plant out can be obtained after 3 - 4 months in the nursery, but at higher altitudes, 9 - 12 months are needed. Germination is epigeous - 1 or 2 seedlings may appear from 1 stone. Seeds can store for at least a year in airtight containers. Raising plants from stumps has been carried out successfully. The stumps should be 8 - 13 mm thick at the root collar, with about 4 cm stem and 20 - 25 cm root. Such plants should be raised in beds for 12 - 15 months before stumping. Shading should be for only 1 week after seedlings have been pricked out, otherwise seedlings should have full light.

Other Uses

The leaves are used to wrap food before cooking, and also as plates and cigar wrappers. An extract of the leaves is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner. An oil is obtained from the seed. A glue can be made from the mucilaginous fruit. The fruit extract has been shown to suppress larval hatching of Meloidogyne incognita. The wood is tough, fairly strong and seasons well, but insects soon attack it. It is used for house construction and agricultural implements. The tree is used as a fuel wood. The plant is grown as a hedge. A quick-growing fruit tree, performing well under semi-arid conditions and suitable for planting along boundary and farm roads.

Production

There are about 300 Cordia species. It is used in medicine.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Abota, Anonang, Bahubara, Bahuvaraka, Bargund, Bhokar, Bhoker, Boal, Bohal, Bohari, Bohori, Bokar, Buch, Bulu, Buralessura, Cheruviri, Chikkachalle, Chinna nakkeru, Chokargond, Chota, Doba khari, Doddachalle, Gadgundi, Glue Berry Tree, Gobarhuta, Gondan, Gondi, Goohalo, Gunda, Hpak-mong, Indian-cherry, Kal, Kalahuza, Karadisellai, Kasondeh, Kendal, Kotra, Lashora, Lasoda, Lasoora, Lasora, Lasorda, Lassora, Lasura, Lasuri, Laswara, Lesua, Lisora, Muk-fang, Naruvali, Naruviri, Nunang, Pa-mi-shing, Patinga, Paw man, Peddanakkera, Periyaviri, Perunarubili, Pohon lasora besar, Puzhuventhekku, Sebestan plum, Selvat, Shelvant, Shelvati, Shembadi, Siumung esing, Thanapet, Thanat, Thanut, Tun-paw-man, Uddalaka, Vargund, Viri, Virimaram

References (97)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 3546 and no. 3548 (As Cordia griffithii) and no. 3547 (As Cordia wallichii)
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 140 and p 141 (As Cordia wallichii)
• Anon., 2003, Native Plants for the Fitzroy basin. Society for Growing Australian Plants Inc. (Rockhampton Branch)
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 64
• Bajpai, O., et al, 2015, Tree species of the Himalayan Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India: a checklist. Check List 11(4): 1718

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