Holoptelea Integrefolia
Family : Urticaceae
Common Name : Indian Elm
English Name : Indian Elm
Hindi Name : Chilbi, Chirol
Telugu Name : Nemilinara
Bengali Name : Nata Karanja
Tree Characteristics :
Holopteleaintegrifolia is a deciduous tree growing up to 22 metres tall. The bole is often much twisted and branching from low down. Identified by whitish grey bark exfoliating in long irregular flakes, unequally rounded base of the leaves and samara fruit.
Nursery:
Fruits are plucked off the felled branches, cleaned and dried in the sun. Seeds do not retain their viability more than 7 to 8 months. No. of seeds per Kg 25,000 to 28,500; Germination percentage 70 to 80; The fresh seeds soon after collection are sown on the primary bed during April to May covered with a thin layer of soil. Stiff soil should be avoided and regular weeding and loosening of the soil should be carried out. Overhead shade is necessary. Seedlings are transplanted into the polybags in June to July. One year old seedling is planted out.
Economic Uses :
Ø The bark and leaves are used for treating oedema, diabetes, leprosy and other skin diseases, intestinal disorders, piles and sprue.
Ø A poultice of the bark and leaves is applied topically to treat boils, swellings and rheumatic pains.
Ø The bark is used externally as a treatment for rheumatism, ringworm, scabies, ulcers and scorpion stings.
Ø The mucilaginous bark is boiled then the juice is squeezed out and applied to rheumatic swellings; the exhausted bark is then powdered and applied over the parts covered by the sticky juice.
Ø The seed and a paste of the stem bark is used in treating ringworm.
