Chironji Tree is a
medium-sized deciduous
tree, growing to about
50 ft tall. It bears
fruits each cotaining a
single seed, which is
popular as an edible
nut, known as chironji.
It is common in our
forests mostly in eroded
ravine lands. It avoids
waterlogged areas, but
occurs locally in clay
soils. It can be
identified by the dark
grey crocodile bark with
red blaze. A good
species for afforesting
bare hill slopes. It has
tickly leathery leaves
which are broadly
oblong, with blunt tip
and rounded base. Leaves
have 10-20 pairs of
straight, parallel
veins. Pyramidal
panicles of greenish
while flowers appear in
early spring. Fruits
ripen from April to May
and remain on the tree
for quite a long time.
Flowering:
January-March.
Other Names: Charoli,
Chiranji, Buchanania
lanzan
Description:
The Buchanania lanzan also
known as Chironji,
Chiranji, Charoli fruits
are considered as one of
the delicious wild
fruits. The seeds are
also eaten. The seeds
are regarded as
substitute for almonds.
Chironji tree produces
gum benzoin similar but
inferior to that from
Styrax benezoin. Bark
yields tannin (upto 13
percent) and used in
tannin industries. As
mentioned earlier, the
seed is substitute to
almond, the natives
extract oil for seed and
use it as almond oil.
According to reference
literatures, it is also
good substitute to
olive-oil. Chironji is
used for coating tablets
for delayed action. For
the natives and
traditional healers
Chironji is a valuable
herb. The natives use
seeds for the
preparation of sweets. A
sweet dish called "Chironji
Ki Barfi" is much
popular among them both
for delicious taste and
nutritional properties.
It is specially
recommended for newly
wed couples. Chironji is
an almost evergreen,
moderate sized tree,
with straight,
cylindrical trunk, upto
15 meters and tomentose
branches. Bark rough
dark grey or black,
fissured into prominent
squares, 1.25-1.75 cm
thick, reddish inside.
Leaf thickly coriaceous,
broadly oblong, obtuse,
base rounded. Flower
small, greenish -white,
in axillary or terminal
panicles. Calyx 3-5
lobed, 1mm long, ovate ,
apex obtuse, petals 4-5,
3mm long, ovate,
subacute. Disc fleshy,
5-lobed, stamens 10,
inserted at the base of
the disc, filaments
linear. Ovary of 5-6
free carpels , situated
inside the disc, only 1
carpel fertile. Drupe
8-12 in diameter. Seed
hard stone,
4300-5300/Kg. According
to reference literatures
related to different
systems of medicine in
India, as medicine,
roots, leaves, fruit,
seeds and gum are used.
According to Ayurveda,
it removes biliousness,
and cures blood
disorders, fevers,
thirst, ulcers, burning
sensation of body. It is
fattening, laxative,
binding, cooling,
aphrodisiac,
cardio-tonic, astringent
to bowels etc. According
to Unani system of
medicine, leaf juice is
digestive,
expectorant,aphrodisiac,
purgative, blood
purifier and allays
thirst. Seeds are tonic
to body and brain and
useful in treatment of
gleet, urinary
concretions, fevers etc.
Common
Indian Names of
Chironji
Languages
Names
(1) Bengali
Chironji
(2) Gujarati and
Marathi
Charoli,
Pyalchar
(3) Hindi
Achar, Char,
Paira, Piyal
(4) Kanarese
Murkali,
Charpoppu
(5) Malyalam
Mungaper
(6) Oriya
Charu
(7) Sanskrit
Priyalam, Char,
Dhanu, Rajadana,
Tapaspriya
(8) Tamil
Morala
(9) Telugu
Saara chettu,
Morichettu
Medicinal uses:
The roots are acrid,
astringent, cooling,
depurative and
constipating, and are
useful in treatment of
diarrhoea. Leaves are
used in the treatment of
skin diseases. Fruits
are used in treating
cough and asthma.
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