Synonyms: 

Buceras bellirica (Gaertn.) Lyons

Myrobalanus bellirica Gaertn.

Systematic Position

Kingdom:  Plantae

Phylum: Tracheophyta

Order: Myrtales

Family: Combretaceae

Native: India, China & Malesia

Common Names

English – Bastard Myrobalan

Malayalam – താന്നി

Description: 

A large deciduous tree to 50 m tall and a diameter of 3 m with a rounded crown. The frequently buttressed bole at the base is branchless up to 20 m. The bark is bluish or ashy-grey covered with numerous fine longitudinal cracks, the inner bark yellowish.

Habitat:  Terminalia bellirica typically thrives in a variety of habitats including tropical and subtropical regions.

Distribution: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, as well as South-East Asia

Uses: Its fruit is used in Ayurvedic medicine as one of the constituets in tiphala in combination with Terminalia chebula and Phyllanthus emblica,. The fruit contains chemicals that might affect digestion and protect the liver.  It is also used for constipation, cough, diabetes, diarrhea, high cholesterol, etc.