Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants
Aphanamixis polystachya
Genus: Aphanamixis
Botanical name: Aphanamixis polystachya
PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Sanskrit: anavallabha, ksharayogya, lakshmi, lakshmivana, lohita
Hindi: Harin-hara, Harinkhana
English: Pithraj Tree
Malayalam: Chemmaram
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Pithraj Tree is a deciduous tree native to India, growing to 20-30 m tall. Leaves are odd- or even- pinnate, 30-60 cm long, with 9-21 leaflets. Leaflets are oblong-elliptic, elliptic, or ovate, 17-26 × 4-10 cm with basal pair smallest, leathery when mature, with visible transparent tiny spots under sunlight. Base of the leaflets is oblique, margin entire. Flower clusters occur in leaf axils, less than a foot long. Flowers are 6-7 mm in diameter, with 3 bracteoles. Flowers have 5 nearly curcular sepals, 1-1.5 mm across. Petals are 3-7 mm in diameter, concave. Staminal tube is spherical, smooth. Anthers are 5 or 6, oblong. Capsule is sort of ovoid, 2-2.5 × 2.5-3 cm, orangish when mature. Seeds are greyish brown.
The Bark of Pithraj Tree is used for spleen, liver diseases, tumour and abdominal complaints.