Common Name: Arjuna

General Information

Arjuna is a very large evergreen tree that grows up to 30 metres tall, with occasional specimens up to 60 metres[, ]. The buttressed bole can be up to 2.5 metres in diameter[].
A very important medicinal plant in India, where it has been employed in medicine for at least 3,000 years[]. The tree is also exploited in the wild for its timber and tannin-rich bark[, ]. It is planted as a shade tree in coffee plantations in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia[], and as an ornamental in many areas[]. An important source of timber in India, it has potential for commercial planting elsewhere in the South-East Asia region[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar.

Habitat

Wet, marshy areas and on riverbanks[]. Banks of streams and rivers in central India[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of dry to moist areas in the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime annual temperatures are within the range 20 - 33°c, though it can tolerate 5 - 47°c. It can be killed by temperatures of -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 1,000 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 750 - 1,800mm[].
Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil and a position in full sun[]. It can tolerate short periods of the soil being inundated[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6, but tolerates 5 - 7[].
Young trees can reach a height of 13 metres after 16 years[].

Edible Uses

Seed[].

A decoction of the bark with milk is used as a beverage[].

Medicinal

The bark of the tree contains a number of medically active ingredients, including tannins, flavonoids, sterols and triterpenoid saponins[]. The bark is a cardiac tonic, lowers blood pressure and reduces blood cholesterol levels[].
Arjuna is a herb where modern research has fully supported its traditional use for treating heart disease[]. The bark is taken internally to treat a range of heart conditions and seems to work best when blood supply to the heart is poor, as in angina and ischaemic heart disease[]. It is also of value in helping to maintain a steady heart beat[].

The gum is used medicinally[].

The juice of the bark is used as a tonic[].

The juice from the leaves is used traditionally to treat earache[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is planted to provide shade, especially in coffee plantations[].

Other Uses

The bark contains 20 - 24% tannin[, ]. It is used commercially in India[]. When carefully removed from the tree, without damaging the cambium layer, a new layer of bark will grow[].
The fruits also contain tannin[].

A transparent gum is obtained from the tree[].

The heartwood is brown, variegated with darker coloured streaks; the sapwood is reddish-white[]. The wood is very hard[, ]. It is apt to split in seasoning and is not very easy to work[]. It is used for a number of purposes including the construction of carts and boats, for general construction, agricultural implements and mine props[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed -
The seed can store at room temperature for up to three years[].

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