⚠️IUCN Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC DD NE
🌳Names of the Tree
Vernacular Name/s: Thanat (Myanmar), Kendal (Javanese), Capestan (French)
Scientific Name: Cordia dichotoma
Family Name: Boraginaceae
📜Details
Average Height: 7.5m
Average Length of Leaves: 10cm
Propagation: Seed
Where to Find: Found on almost all of the islands and provinces of the Philippines, typically in secondary forests and thickets at low to medium altitudes. Additionally, it can be found in India, southern China, Taiwan, Malaya, tropical Australia, and Polynesia.
Uses: The wood is employed in building. The slimy, gluggy pulp of the fruit is used to manufacture glue. The leaves that are edible can be used to make plates and cigar wraps. There are many medicinal uses for the plant.
Notable Features: The long-stalked, spirally organized leaves of this plant have varying form, 2-16 by 1.2-10 cm, papery to somewhat leathery leaf blades, and pointy points. Its flowering shoots are 4-11 cm long, originate from lateral branches, repeatedly divide into two branches, and have 10 to numerous flowers found at the branch terminals. Saplings' leaf blades have a pronounced toothing along the borders. The fruit is egg-shaped, smooth, shiny, white, maturing clear pink, and is up to 19 by 10 mm. The blooms are white and measure 8.5–13 by 8.5 mm. Each fruit has a single stone seed inside its slimy, sticky fruit pulp.
Habit of Matured Tree
Leaf
Phyllotaxy
Some Facts
Nearly all plant components of C. are found in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indo-China. Dichotoma is employed in medicine. For dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery fever, headache, stomach ache, and as a tonic, a decoction of the stem bark is administered. Additionally, it is advantageous after delivery. Applying wet bark externally to boils, swells, and tumors has maturative effects. It can be used as a powder or as a gargle to treat mouth ulcers. To strengthen the teeth, the bark is rubbed on them. The fruit is cooling and the bark is used to alleviate catarrh in Burma (Myanmar). The leaves' juice, which is also said to be cooling, is used as a poultice to treat migraines, edema, and inflammation.