Mimusops Elengi
Family : Sapotaceae
Common Name : Spanish cherry
Hindi Name : Maulsari
Tamil Name : Magizhamboo
Bengali Name : Bakul
Gujarati Name : Barsoli
Tree Characteristics :
Spanish cherry is a lovely green small tree of the Indian subcontinent. With its small shiny, thick, narrow, pointed leaves, straight trunk and spreading branches, it is a prized oranamental specimen because it provides a dense shade and during the months from March to July fills the night air with the delicious heady aroma of its tiny cream colored flowers. Flowers are small, star-shaped, yellowish white in color, with a crown rising from the center. Oval leaves, wavy at margin, about 5-16 cm and 3-7 cm wide. In the morning the fragrant flowers which so graciously scented their surroundings with their deep, rich, fragrance during the evening hours, fall to the ground. People love to collect them as they retain their odor for many days after they fall. They are offered in temples and shrines throughout the country. Appears in Indian mythology as Vakula - said to put forth blossoms when sprinkled with nectar from the mouth of lovely women. Fruits are eaten fresh.
Nursery Practice :
Fruits are Berry type. Seeds - Brown, ovoid, compressed seed. One seeded rarely two seeded. Seed Weight - 2,000 to 3,000 seeds/kg, 1,940 to 2,152 seeds/kg , The fruits are collected in cotton / polythene bags and transported to the processing centre as quickly as possible; The fruits are squeezed in water for depulping and seeds seperated and dried under shade. Probably recalcitrant. Viability of seeds is about 2 months. Seeds are susceptible to damage by ants, and hence treatment is recommended (Rai, 1999). Store seeds in dry condition in closed aluminium or plastic containers. Seed treatment - Mild boiled water treatment may be given because of the hard testa. Cold - water treatment may be given to soften the hard testa, Germination percentage 30 to 60; Germination period 30 to 45 days. Freshly collected seeds are sown in germination trays containing vermiculite and watered under shade. In about 60 days, the seedlings attain 5 cm height and they are pricked out to polythene bags of size 22.5 cm x 17.5 cm and maintained under shade for about 60 days. Seedlings have to be maintained in the nursery for about 8 months. Adequate watering, twice a day, shall be provided
Economic Use:
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The flowers are used as garlands, stuffing pillows, and in distilling an attar used in perfumes. The timber is mainly used for constructional work like bridges and piles and for boat building and agricultural implements. The bark yields a dye for colouring fabrics. Oil from seeds is used for several purposes
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Medicinal uses - The seeds oil is used for medicine. Bark is tonic and febrifuge and is used as a gargle for odontopathi. Tender stems are used as toothbrushes. The fruits and seeds are effective in curing dental ailments. Various parts are used for treatment of wound and dysentery. The bark is used for disease of gums and flowers for blood diseases
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Sapwood is pale reddish brown and the heartwood which is sharply delineated from the sapwood, is dark reddish brown. The wood is very hard, strong, heavy and tough.
