Acacia torta (Roxb.) Craib.

Synonym:

A. intsia Willd.

A. caesia Wright and Arn. non-Willd.

Family:

Mimosaceae.

Habitat:

Throughout India in the dry and intermediate zones; ascending to an altitude of about 1,200 m in the Himalayas.

Ayurvedic:

Aadaari, Lataa Khadira (related sp., see. A. pennata).

Siddha/Tamil:

Kariyundu, Ingu.

Folk:

Araar, Chilar (Punjab), Aila (Maharashtra).

Action:

Flower—emmenagogue. Bark—anti-inflammatory, antiseptic (in skin diseases). Bark contains 17% tannins, triterpene alcohol, saponins of acacic acid, lupeol and a steroid, acaciol. An alkaloid, tryptamine, is present in the root and stem bark.

Various plant parts are used in cough, bronchitis, measles, tubercular fistula and in the treatment of menstrual disorders. The bark is used for washing the hair.