Barringtonia acutangula

Barringtonia acutangula is a medium-sized and deciduous tree growing up to 10-12 m high.

The bark of Barringtonia acutangula is rough and dark brown-coloured.

The leaves of Barringtonia acutangula grow alternately on the stem (spirally arranged).
The leaf is simple, green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is coriaceous and glabrous on both sides.
The leaves have a 6-7 cm long petiole.
The leaf of Barringtonia acutangula is about 10-20 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The shape of the blade is oblanceolate or obovate, the apex is acute, the base is cuneate and the margins are serrate.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with a prominent midrib.

The flowers of Barringtonia acutangula are grouped in long and pendulous racemes up to 30-40 cm long.
The flowers are 4-merous.
The calyx-tube is cup-shaped, 4-lobed and 3 mm long and 3 mm across. The calyx is light green and glabrous.
The corolla is composed of 4 green pinkish-coloured and glabrous petals. The petals are ovate and imbricate, 5 mm long and 3 mm wide.
The androecium is composed of numerous stamens in several rows. The filaments are 1 cm long, filiform and pink. The anthers are globular and 0.5 mm across.
The pistil is composed of a filiform and 1.5 cm long style and a small and simple stigma. The ovary is inferior and 2-celled.
The flowers are fragrant.

The fruit of Barringtonia acutangula is a fibrous and quadrangular berry. The fruit is ovoid, 3.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. The fruit contains one seed.

The bark, the roots and the seeds are used as a fish poison.

Source : Chopra, 1956, Glossary of Indian medicinal plants

The wood of Barringtonia acutangula is soft and durable. It is used for furniture, boat building, well construction.

The bark is used for tanning.

Source : Dastur, 2006, Useful Plants of India and Pakistan

The roots of Barringtonia acutangula are bitter, cooling, aperient, antipyretic, stimulant and emetic. They are useful in catarrh, fevers and constipation. (Arya Vaidya Sala, 1996, Indian Medicinal plants)

The leaf juice is given in diarrhea. (Basu & Kirtikar, 1918, Indian Medicinal Plants)

The powdered seeds are used as snuff in headache. (Basu & Kirtikar, 1918, Indian Medicinal Plants)

The fruit of Barringtonia acutangula is bitter, acrid, anthelmintic, haemolytic and vulnerary. It is prescribed in gingivitis and as an expectorant. (Khare, 2007, Indian Medicinal Plants, An Illustrated Dictionary)