Scientific name: Wrightia arborea (Dennst.) Mabb.
Family: Apocynaceae
Synonym: Wrightia tomentosa Roem. & Schult.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Dudh-koraiya, Dudhi, Dudh-kuruch, Shet-kurchi.
Tribal name: Bol-matra (Garo), Lak thok (Marma).
English name: Woolly dyeing rosebay.
Description of the plant: A medium-sized deciduous tree with profound milky latex. Leaves tomentose on both surfaces, elliptic or ovate, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, base cuneate, margin thickly undulate. Cymes terminal, corymbose, tomentose. Flowers white, turning yellow with unpleasant odour. Fruits 5-18 cm long, cylindrical, pendulous.
Plant parts used: Bark, root.
Ethnomedicinal uses: Latex of the plant is applied externally on the infected nails twice a day for two days to treat nail infection.
A fresh juice is extracted from the roots of the plant is taken three times a day (two tea spoons amount each time) until the asthma is cured.
A paste is made with the bark of the plant is applied externally on the snake biting place twice a day until the poison is eliminated.
Milky juice of the plant is applied externally on the cutting place twice a day to treat bleeding from cutting wound.
Distribution: The species occurs in the forests of Sylhet, Mymensingh, Tangail, Chittagong, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
