Allophylus serratus

Allophylus serratus is a thornless and deciduous shrub growing up to 6-8 m high.

The bark of Allophylus serratus is light-brown-coloured and longitudinally fissured.

The leaves of Allophylus serratus grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is compound, trifoliate with a 4-7 cm long petiole.
The leaflets are dark green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaflets are chartaceous and pubescent on both sides.
The lateral leaflets have a very short petiolule and the terminal leaflet has a 1 cm long petiolule.
The lateral leaflets of Allophylus serratus are 5-8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, ovate-lanceolate with an acuminate apex and an oblique and rounded base.
The terminal leaflet of Allophylus serratus are 7-12 cm long and 3.5-4.5 cm wide, elliptic with an acuminate apex and an attenuated base.
The margins of the leaflets are serrate.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with a prominent midrib.

The flowers of Allophylus serratus are grouped in axillary racemes (at the upper axils of the leaves). The peduncle is 1-1.5 cm long.
The male and hermaphrodite flowers are separated on the same inflorescence.
The calyx-lobes are 4, elliptic and imbricate, about 1 mm long and 1 mm wide. The calyx is light green and glabrous.
The corolla is composed of 4 pale yellow-coloured and glabrous petals. The petals are obovate or elliptic, 1.5 mm long and 1 mm wide.
The male flowers have 8 stamens.
The bisexual flowers have a 2-lobed ovary and one style with a bifid stigma.
The flowers are fragrant.
 

The fruit of Allophylus serratus is a globose drupe. The fruit is globose, 0.5-0.8 cm across, green turning yellowish and red-coloured when ripe. It contains one stone.

The seed of Allophylus serratus are inclosed into an ovoid stone. The stone is 5 mm long and 4 mm wide.

The wood of Allophylus cobbe is hard but not very durable. It used as a timber for temporary structures and indoors.

Source : Useful Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern, 2014, http://tropical.theferns.info

The raw fruit of Allophylus cobbe is edible, its taste is sour.

Source : Useful Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern, 2014, http://tropical.theferns.info

The leaf extract of Allophylus cobbe is taken against stomachache.
The leaf paste is applied on scabies.

The root powder mixed with honey is astringent and it is taken for diarrhea.

The fruits are sweet, cooling and tonic.

The whole plant is used on bone fractures, dislocations, inflammations, wounds and ulcers.

Sources :
- Arya Vaidya Sala, 1996, Indian Medicinal plants 
- Quattrocchi, 2012, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants