Arjuna, Indian-laurel
Terminalia arjuna

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It can lose its leaves. It often has buttresses. The bark is smooth and grey. It flakes off in thin strips. It grows to 25 m tall and spreads to 4 m across. It has a dense matted fibrous root system. The stem is erect and branching. The branches and leaves hang over. The leaves are oval and broad. They are 8-15 cm long. They taper towards the tip and are green and glossy. There are a pair of glands near the leaf stalk. The flowers are greenish-white. They occur near the ends of branches and have a strong perfume. They are not easily seen. They are crowded on spikes 5-7 cm long in the axils of leaves. The fruit are large and round. They are woody and 6 cm long. They have 5 thin flat wings running along the side.

There are about 200-250 Terminalia species. They are tropical. The fruit are used in medicine. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. This plant originally comes from India. It prefers well composted, well drained, moist soils. It requires an open sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. It often occurs in drier regions but near river banks.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, East Africa, Fiji, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA

How it is used for food

A decoction of the bark is mixed with milk to make a drink. The bark is cut into small pieces and dried. The seeds are also eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, bark - drink, kernel, nuts, seed

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from root suckers, stumps and air-layering.

Its other names

Local names

Arjan, Arjhan, Arjun sadura, Arjun, Arjuno, Arolhi gas, Dharka, Holematti, Kalar-taukkyant, Kala-taukkyan, Koha, Kumbuk, Maddi, Orjun, Pohon ketapang arjuna, Sad, Sadad, Sadado, Sadaru, Sahajo, Sanmadat, Thella maddi, Vellamarda, Vellamatta, White murdah, Yerramaddi

Synonyms

Pentaptera arjuna Royle.; Pentaptera glabra Roxb.; Terminalia cuneata Roth; Terminalia elliptica Willd.; Terminalia glabra Wight & Arn.; and others