Saj, Indian Laurel
Terminalia tomentosa

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can be 30 m tall. The trunk is straight and clear. It can be 1 m across. The bark is cracked. The tree loses its leaves during the year.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest in the humid regions of India. It grows up to 1,300 m above sea level. It usually grows in areas with a temperature between 22°-35°C and an annual rainfall between 1,000-2,000 mm.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim

How it is used for food

The bark is used for the manufacture of a kind of palm sugar. The bark is also chewed as a substitute for lime with betel nut.

Edible parts

Bark - sugar

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Asan, Asna, Chhlik, Karra marda, Maddi, Matti, Nallamaddi, Sadada, Sain ain, Taukkyan

Synonyms

Chuncoa tomentosa Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Pentaptera coriacea Roxb.; Pentaptera cuneata DC.; Pentaptera macrocarpa Wall.; Pentaptera maradu G. Don; Pentaptera tomentosa Roxb.; Terminalia alata Heyne ex Roth.;