Chilla

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Chilla is a deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 6 m tall, with dark grey bark with white specks and a few longitudinal wrinkles. Elliptic leaves are stalked, somewhat toothed, base rounded or sometimes pointed. They are 9.5-13 cm long, 5.5-7.5 cm broad, smooth. Leaf stalk is up to 1 cm long. Flowers are pale green, foul smelling, somewhat hairy, in clusters on leafless axils. Fruits are yellow ellipsoid or nearly spherical capsules, 2-5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide. Chilla is found is the Himalayas, from Garhwal to Sikkim, and Burma, at altitudes of 300-2000 m. It is also found in S. India in Eastern and Western Ghats

The decoction of the bark of Cherukannan is used for diarrhoea, burns, wounds, rashes chest colds and fever.