Cordia dichotoma
Cordia dichotoma is a species of flowering tree in the family Cordiaceae, that is native to the Indomalayan realm, northern Australia, and western Melanesia.
Common names in English include fragrant manjack, clammy cherry, glue berry tree and Indian cherry.
Description
Cordia dichotoma is a small to moderate-sized deciduous tree with a short bole and spreading crown. The stem bark is greyish brown, smooth or longitudinally wrinkled. Flowers are short-stalked, bisexual, white in colour which open only at night. The fruit is a yellow or pinkish-yellow shining globose which turns black on ripening and the pulp gets viscid.Habitat and range
Cordia dichotoma is native to China the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. It is a tree of tropical and subtropical regions. It is found in a variety of forests ranging from the dry deciduous forests of Rajasthan to the moist deciduous forests of Western Ghats and tidal forests in Myanmar.It has been introduced into Cuba, Florida, Guatemala, Leeward Islands, Marianas, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Tobago, Trinidad and the Windward Islands.
Ecology
The larvae of the butterfly Arhopala micale feed on leaves of C. dichotoma.Uses
The immature fruits are used in South Asian pickles, and as a vegetable fodder. The leaves yield good fodder. The fruits of C. dichotoma are edible.'Joshanda' is a Unani herbal medicine, known for its ability to manage colds, coughs, sore throats, nasal congestion, respiratory problems, and fevers. It consists of seeds of 'Khatmi', fruits of 'Sapistan', dried rhizomes of 'mulethi ', seeds of 'Khubbazi', leaves of 'Gaozaban', flowers of Banafsha and the dried fruits of 'Unnab'. Its fruits of C. dichotoma are a rich source of polysaccharides and are potential sources of phytochemicals with antibacterial and antioxidant activities.