Beleric

Terminalia bellirica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Combretaceae
Genus:	Terminalia
Species:	T. bellirica
Binomial name
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.

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). 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.^[1]

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

with leaves being eaten by Semi-looper cats from Noctuidae family

with leaves being eaten by Semi-looper cats

with leaves being eaten by Semi-looper cats

with leaves being eaten by Semi-looper cats

In traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Beleric is known as "Bibhitaki;" (Terminalia belerica) in its fruit form it is used in the popular Indian herbal rasayana treatment triphala.

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.^{[citation needed]}

Terminalia bellirica seeds have an oil content of 40%, the fatty-acid methyl ester of which meets all of the major biodiesel requirements in the USA (ASTM D 6751-02, ASTM PS 121-99), Germany (DIN V 51606) and European Union (EN 14214).^[2]

References

External links

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