Beleric

Beleric, also known as the bastard myrobalan, Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb., is a large deciduous tree common on plains and lower hills in Southeast Asia, where it is also grown as an avenue tree. The basionym is Myrobalanus bellirica Gaertn. (Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 90, t. 97. 1791). William Roxburgh transferred M. bellirica to Terminalia as "T. bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb.". This spelling error is now widely used, causing confusion. The correct name is Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.

The leaves are about 15 cm long and crowded toward the ends of the branches. It is considered a good fodder for cattle.

In traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Beleric is known as "Bibhitaki" (Marathi: Behada) (Terminalia belerica) in its fruit form it is used in the popular Indian herbal rasayana treatment triphala. In Sanskrit it is called vibhīdaka विभीदक.

This species is used by some tribes in the Indian subcontinent for its mind-altering qualities; they smoke dried kernels. Too much of this can cause nausea and vomiting.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_bellirica
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