Common Name: Myrobalan

General Information

Myrobalan is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree with a large, globose crown; it can grow up to 50 metres tall, though it is usually smaller in cultivation. The buttressed bole usually has a diameter of up to 200cm, though exceptionally to 300cm, and can be branchless for up to 20 metres[, , ].
The tree has long been used in Indian herbal medicine, the fruits being gathered from the wild and from cultivation[]. The tree is cultivated everywhere in India because of its fruits and the tannin-rich bark[].

Known Hazards

The seeds are possible toxic or narcotic[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - southwest China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Scattered forests, sunny mountain slopes, one of the upper layer trees of stream valleys and lower seasonal rain forests at elevations of 500 - 1,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	35.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant has a wide ecological range, succeeding in tropical and subtropical climates, but does not grow above 600 m altitude[]. It is found at elevations up to 1,400 metres in China[]. In its natural area of distribution mean annual precipitation varies from 1,000 to over 3,000 mm[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime annual temperatures are within the range 20 - 33°c, though it can tolerate 5 - 45°c[]. It is fairly sensitive to frost, though seedlings can survive, particularly when covered with grass[]. Generally, temperatures of -1°c can kill a tree[].
Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position[]. Young trees are somewhat shade tolerant[]. Prefers periodically dry soils, and is moderately drought tolerant[, ]. Plants can tolerate short periods of inundation[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, but tolerates 5 - 7.5[].
Trees are leafless for a short period (some weeks) in the dry season[].
Pollination may be done by insects, as the flowers have unpleasant odour, which attracts flies[].
Trees planted at a spacing of 1 metre x 6 metres in Java have a mean annual increment in height of 1.6 metres and diameter of 2.1 cm at the age of 15 years; when sown directly at 1 metre x 3 metres the trees closed their canopy after 5 years and gave an annual height and diameter increment of 1.2 metres and 1.3 cm, respectively, after 6 years[]. The trees had reached a height of 20 - 25 metres in 15 years, after a few thinnings[].
Trees react well to coppicing, but pollarding does not give good results[].

Edible Uses

The seeds are edible[, , ]. They are possibly toxic or narcotic[, ]. Eating the seeds in any but small quantities can lead to narcotic effects[].

The dark red fruits are edible[]. They can be used for making preserves[]. Subacid, with a pleasant flavour, the smooth-skinned fruit is about 3cm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

The fruit contains anthraquinones and tannins[]. It is anthelmintic, astringent (especially when ripe), digestive, tonic and laxative (especially when unripe)[, , ].
The fruit is used internally principally in the treatment of digestive and respiratory problems[]. In Indian herbal medicine the ripe fruit is used in cases of diarrhoea and indigestion, whilst the unripe fruit is used as a laxative in cases of chronic constipation[]. The fruit is often used to treat upper respiratory tract infections that cause symptoms of sore throats, hoarseness and coughs[].
Externally, the fruit is used to make a lotion for sore eyes[, ].

The sour fruits are one of the ingredients of 'triphala', an Ayurvedic rejuvenative, laxative tonic based on this species plus the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica and Terminalia chebula[].

Other Uses

The bark is used for making a dye[].
The dried fruits contain 20 - 25% tannin[, ].
The fruits yield a dye that is occasionally used together with iron sulphate for dyeing black cloth and matting, as a cheap substitute for indigo, and for preparation of ink[, , , ].

The leaves are a source of tannins[].

The seeds yield about 40% of a clear yellow oil, composed of 12% palmitic acid, 16% stearic acid, 43% oleic acid and 29% linoleic acid[]. It is used for hair-oil and in the manufacture of soap[, ]. An excellent soap can be prepared using a mixture of 60% of this oil, 25% coconut oil and 15% groundnut oil[].

An insoluble gum is produced in considerable quantity from the trunk[].

The timber is yellowish-grey, lacking heartwood, light to moderately heavy, fairly straight-grained, very coarse-textured. It is not durable, and very prone to insect attack, though durability is said to be improved by immersing the wood in water[, ]. It is considered to be of little value[]. It is used for construction and agricultural implements, especially in regions where other timber is scarce or expensive[, ]. Large-sized stems are used for dug-out canoes[].
The wood is valued for fuel and for making charcoal[, ].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soaking in cold water for 24 hours prior to sowing has been reported to improve germination rates[]. Buried seeds have a better chance of successful germination[]. The germination rate is quite high for fresh seeds, with reports of 85 - 100% germination, but it declines rapidly when seeds have been stored for some time[]. Germination needs much moisture, and usually takes 2 - 5 weeks[]. Usually sown in a nursery seedbed, the seed can also be sown directly in the field when conditions are favourable[].
When seedlings are raised in the nursery, transplanting to the field before the taproot has developed is strongly preferable, and mostly successful[]. Clipping the roots and shoots checks growth considerably, stumping is not advised[].

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