Symplocos laurina Wall. ex G.Don, (including its various synonyms which include Symplocos spicata Roxb.; and Symplocos cochinchinensis laurina (Retz.) Noot.) is included here as synonyms of Symplocos acuminata. Many recent research papers (as of 21/03/2022) still refer to the plant by its old names, especially as Symplocos cochinchinensis laurina[].

Common Name:

General Information

Symplocos acuminata is a very variable, evergreen shrub or small tree that can grow from 3 - 14 metres tall. The bole in larger specimens can be up to 30cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use and trade as a medicine and a food. It is also used locally as a source of materials. This is one of several species of Symplocos that is used as the Ayurvedic medicinal plant 'Lodhra' - others include Symplocos racemosa (the main species used as Lodhra) and Symplocos paniculata[]. The plant is also an effective pioneer species for restoring native cloud forest in southern India.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, southerrn China, southern Japan, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia

Habitat

Evergreen, mixed evergreen and wet deciduous forests, particularly near water courses and margins of jungles on hills at elevations above 800 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The leaves, combined with the juice of a cucumber, have been eaten as a salad as part of the treatment of diabetes[].

Medicinal

This is one of several species of Symplocos that are sometimes known as ‘Lodhra’ in the Ayerveda system of medicine. The plant, especially the bark, has a wide range of uses[].
The bark is acrid, antiinflammatory, astringent, depurative, expectorant, febrifuge, haemostatic, ophthalmic, refrigerant and stomachic. It is said to be useful in the treatment of vitiated conditions of pitta and kapha, threatened abortion, asthma, bronchitis, dropsy, arthritis, ulcers, leprosy, skin disease, bleeding gums, haemorrhage, haemoptysis, dyspepsia, leucorrhoea, diarrhoea, dysentry and gonorrhoea[, , ]. The pulverized bark is given with honey in the treatment of biliousness.
The bark is used as a wash in the treatment of opthalmia[].
The bark is described in Ayurveda as a bitter and pungent treatment that is used as an aphrodisiac and in the treatmant of menorrhagia, diseases of ‘raktpitta’ and eye diseases[].

The plant (part not specified) has a history of use in Ayurveda in the treatment of diabetes mellitus[].
The leaves are a good source of antioxidants. Combined with the juice of a cucumber, they have been used in the treatment of diabetes[].
A paste of the leaves, boiled in oil, is used as a topical application in the treatment of scalp diseases[].

In trials, a hexane extraction of the leaves has been shown to be an effective treatment for lowering elevated blood lipid levels[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A natural pioneer plant in its native habitat it can invade open areas, spreading quickly and creating an environment suitable for the establishment of Shola forests - the montane tropical cloud forests of southern India[].

Other Uses

Many species in this genus accumulate aluminium, especially in their leaves and bark. Those species where the leaves turn yellow upon drying contain the largest quantities of aluminiun (up to 4.2% dry weight). Thus many Symplocos species can be used as the source of a yellow dye, and can also be used as a mordant[, , ].
The leaves have a high content of aluminium. They impart a yellow dye and can also be used as a mordant[].

The fruits and seeds are strung into rosaries[].

The wood is white, soft and even grained. It is used for building temporary rafts, and is used for making match-splints[]
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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