Pala Indigo-plant
Wrightia tinctoria

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A small deciduous tree. It grows 8 m tall. The bark is grey or pale brown and becomes cracked with age. The leaves are in pairs opposite each other. They are pointy at the tip. They can be 15 cm long. The are softly hairy. The leaf stalk is very short. The flowers are white and about 3 cm wide. There are 5 narrow twisted petals. The stamens form a cone at the centre. There are lacy threads around the cone. The flowers have a smell of vanilla. The fruit are a pair of long slender cylinders. They hang down and are joined below at the tip. They are green when young.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry deciduous forest. It grows up to 1,200 m altitude in Peninsula India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers are sometimes used as a vegetable. The leaves, fruit and seeds can also be used as vegetables. The juice of the fresh unripe fruit is used to coagulate milk.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, stems, seeds, pods, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or using cuttings. Root suckers can also be used.

The growth is slow.

Its other names

Local names

Aiyapala, Amkuda, Bepalle, Doodhi, Dudh kuvad, Dudhokriya, Hyamaraka, Indrajau, Irumpalai, Jeddapaala, Kala Huda, Kala kuda, Karu, Khirni, Kodamurki, Kodesige, Kotakappalla, Krya, Milky way, Mitha-indrajau, Pita karuan, Runchallo-duhlo, Safed kuvad, Sweet Indrajau, Tedlapaala, Thonthapalai, Toothache plant, Veypale

Synonyms

Wrightia rothii G. Don; Nerium tinctorium Roxb.;