Wrightia tinctoria

Wrightia tinctoria is a small-sized, unarmed and deciduous tree growing up to 10-12 m high.

The bark of Wrightia tinctoria is pale grey or brownish-couloured and longitudinally fissured. The bark is thin and (as all the parts of the tree) abounding in milky latex.

The leaves of Wrightia tinctoria grow opposite on the stem.
The leaf is simple, light green-coloured above and paler beneath. The leaf is chartaceous and glabrous on both sides.
The leaves have a 3-4 mm long petiole.
The leaf of Wrightia tinctoria is 8-15 cm long and 4-5 cm wide. The shape of the blade is elliptic, the apex is acute or acuminate, the base is otuse and the margins are entire.
The venation of the leaf is reticulate with a prominent midrib.

The flowers of Wrightia tinctoria are grouped in terminal cymes. The peduncle is 2.5-3 cm long.
The flowers are 5-merous.
The calyx is composed of 5 concave and imbricate sepals. They are 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide. The calyx is light green yellowish-coloured and glabrous.
The corolla is composed of 5 pure white-coloured and glabrous petals. The petals are oblong, 1.5-2 cm long and 0.5-0.6 cm wide. They are connate at the base into a 3 mm long tube. The corolla bear radiating, spreading and lacy threads at the throat.
The androecium is composed of 5 stamens forming a 5-6 mm long and cream-coloured cone.
The style is 5 mm long with a capitate stigma. The ovary is 2 mm across.
The flowers are fragrant (strong vanilla fragrance).
 

The fruit of Wrightia tinctoria is composed of 2 hanging, slender, cylindric and diverging follicles. The follicles are 20-25 cm long and 0.5-0.7 cm wide and they are joined at their tips. The fruit is deep-green to black-coloured and dotted with white spots.

The seeds of Wrightia tinctoria are ovate and beaked. They have an apical tuft of silky hairs.

The branches of Wrightia tinctoria are used as a soil improver. "They are trampled into the puddle soil in rice field for green manuring".

Source : Orwa C, A Mutua, Kindt R , Jamnadass R, S Anthony. 2009 Agroforestree Database : a tree reference and selection guide

The bark of Wrightia tinctoria is crushed in water and applied as an antiinflammatory.

The stem bark extract is pounded with garlic and turmeric and given orally in anthrax.

Source : Quattrocchi, 2012, CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants

The white wood of Wrightia tinctoria resembles ivory and is moderately hard. It is used for carving, turning, for making toys, combs, pen-holders, boxes and others small articles.

The leaves of Wrightia tinctoria yields a blue dye or indigo-like dye which is known as pala indigo.

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

The latex from the bark and fresh unripe fruits is used for coagulating milk.

Source : Arya Vaidya Sala, 1996, Indian Medicinal plants