Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme

NTFP Product Database

Product Details

Pala maram PRODUCT NAME

Wrightia arborea (Dennst.) Mabb. = Wrightia tomentosa Roem. & Sch. Periploca arborea Dennst. SCIENTIFIC NAME

Common Name: Pala maram
Local Name: Pala maram (Kurumba); Hindi-Dudhi; Urdu-Pal Kurwan; Telugu-Tella pala; Tamil-Pala; Malayalam-Mailam pala.
Family: Apocynaceae
Other Species of Same Genera:
Product Description: A small deciduous tree. Flower: In terminal or pseudo axillary, paniculate cymes, yellow. Fruit: A postulate follicle, connate throughout, upto 30cm. Seeds many, linear oblong, with a tuft of deciduous hairs at the base. A tree with milky sap. Bark grey and corky. Thinly pubescent along nerves above, tomentose below. 
NTFP Classification: Exudates and extracts, Medicinal, aromatics and cosmetics

DISTRIBUTION

Countries Found: India
Description: 800m – 1400m. In deciduous forest, high altitude replacement of W. Tinctoria. South Peninsula India, Deccan, Carnatic and Circars

USES AND PARTS USED

Parts Used: bark, bast
Uses: Bark of tree used in preparing medicine for children
Origin:
Management Practices: Tree used in construction of Kurumba wedding pandhals, as well as for other rituals. Latex applied to breasts of lactating mothers to help “release” the milk. A drupe of this sap is enough to curdle milk.
Market Information:
Partners: Keystone Foundation

PARTNERS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES CONCERNING THIS NTFP

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