Medicinal Plants No 24

Albizia odoratissima (Linn.f.) Benth. Mimosaceae (बब्बुल-कुलम्)

Eng : : Black siris, Kala siris Hin : Kälä siris a frie) Kan : Bilvāra (Deseo) Mal

: Pulivāka, Nellivāka, Karivāka, Kunnivāka

(പുളിവാക, നെല്ലിവാക, കരിവാക, കുന്നിവാക) San : Bhūsirişah (yfyra:) Tam: Karuvākai, Sittilavākai (SCHUTNYA, 959 QJ08) Tel

: Cinduga, Sirisi, Telsu (Dodox. 383. Beuy)

Distribution : Throughout India, in arcas unto an elevation of 1.500 m The plant: A medium sized unarmed tree about 20 m in height with dark

coloured young shoots and grey, rough, irregularly cracked bark with dark patches; leaves abruptly pinnate, alternate, main rachis with a gland on the upper side near its basal part and often with similar glands at the bases of the first two pairs of pinnae, leaflets unequal sided, rounded, or semicordate at base, obtuse or rounded at the apex, dark green, slightly pubescent above; flowers white, fragrant, sessile, numerous, in small globose 5–10 or more flowered heads, in corymbiform spreading panicles; fruits shortly stalked pods, brown,

slightly reticulately veined; seeds flat, yellow. Parts used : bark Properties and uses : The bark is astringent, acrid, cooling, depurative and

expectorant, and is useful in ulcers, leprosy, skin diseases, erysipelas, cough, bronchitis, diabetes and burning sensation.

"श्रूषा तु भूशिरीषः शिरीषको ध्वाक्षिकः सफला । तरुधूमो दुरदरिकः कनीयशीर्षोऽतिदुर्बला ज्ञेया ॥ (अ.म.) ("Srüşā tu bhūśirişaḥ śirişako dhvamkşikah saphala Tarudhumö duradarikaḥ kaniyasięşoſtidurbalā jñeya" (A.ma.)]

'कफपित्तहरः शीतः विषव्रणविशोधनः । भूशिरीषो विसर्पनः नक्तान्ध्ये च प्रशस्यते ॥” (स्व.) ("Kaphapittaharaḥ śitah vişavsaņavisodhanah Bhüśirişő visarpaghnah naktandhye ca praśasyatē" (Sva.)]“നിലവാകരസം കയ്പു ദീപനം വിഷനാശനം പിന്നെക്കോഷ്ഠത്തിലുണ്ടാകും ശ്ലേഷ്മത്തെ കളയും ദുതം.” (ഗു.പാ.) ["Nilavākarasam kaypu dipanam visanaśanam Pinnekkoothattiluntakum slesmatte kalayum drutam" (Gu.pa.)