Wild Cinchona

Location in BHU campus : Located in gardens ,along roadside

Botanical name : Anthocephalus chinensis (Lamk.) Walp. A.cadamba (Roxb.) Miq. A.indicus Rich.

Family : Rubiaceae

Vernacular / local Name : Assam-Roghu; Bengali-Bal-kadam; Garo-Mi-bol; Gujarati-Kadamba; Hindi–Kadamba; Kannada-Kadawala; Malayalam-Attu-tek, kodavara; Marathi-Kadamba; Oriya-Kadambo; Sanskrit-Kadamba; Tamil-Kalaoyila,vellai-kadambam; Telugu-Kadambamuchettu,pedda kambo,rudrakshakadamba;

English /Trade names : Wild Cinchona

A large tree up to 37 m high and 2.4 m in girth with a clear bole of 9 m and horizontal branches.Leaves coriaceous,broadly ovate.Flower heads globose,yellow ,solitary,terminal consisting of small scented flowers.Fruit fleshy,orange,globose.Seeds small.

Flowering: June-August

Fruiting: September-November

• Shloka

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uopEidiq’ikHkuklkn.MfojkftrkA
rkjkdkfUrfrjLdkfjuklkHkj.kHkklqjkAA
dnEcevjhDy`ed.kZiwjeuksgjkA
rkV³V~;qxyh HkwrriuksMqie.MykAA

• Sacred value

Kadamba tree is considered sacred as it is associated with Lord Krishna. Kadamba was the only tree that grew on the small island in the Kaliyadaha lake where the venomous Kaliya Naga lived .All other creatures that came within a few miles of it were destroyed by its venomous breath .The snake was later killed by Lord Krishna.The tree became immortal because Garuda ,the eagle,had perched on it when it flew back from Svargoloka after drinking amrita,the drink that immortalizes.When it sat on the tree and wiped its beak against its branches a drop of amrita fell on the tree and made it immortal.

There are folk tales of Orissa and legends from Bhuiya tribe of Keonjhar which mention the beneficial results of worshipping Kadam tree.

The agricultural communities of Orissa and West Bengal celebrate Kadam festival. On the 11th day of bright fortnight of Bhadra ,the kadam is planted ceremoniously.Leaves of Sal tree are offered along with cucumber and vermillion to ensure wealth and children.

• Uses

Wood is used for packing cases, tea boxes, beams, rafters and light construction work.It is also suitable for making matches,plywood as well as for carving.Cheap quality paper is made from the wood pulp.Bark is used in traditional medicine to cure fever and cough.The juice of the fresh bark is employed to treat inflammation of the eyes. Flowers yield an essential oil and a spirit is distilled from the flowers.The fruit is eaten by monkeys,bats and birds.The flowers are offered in temples.It is an ideal tree to plant in parks and large gardens.