Economic Importance of Trewia nudiflora

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Trewia
Species: Trewia nudiflora
Common name: Gutel, khamara
Origin: India

Description: It is a small to large sized deciduous tree with spreading branches. Leaves opposite, long petioled, broadly ovate, cordate or rounded base, acuminate, female flowers on long peduncles, styles yellow. Fruit is a globose berry.

Economic Importance:

• The wood is even textured. It is classed as a very weak and soft timber. It is a straight- grained timber with medium fine- texture.
• It is used for making drums, cheap planking and suitable for match splints, tea chests and packing cases.
• It is also used for agricultural implements, dug- outs, yokes, slate, and picture frames, carved images, and toys. Fruits are edible, seeds yield fatty oil.
• Poultice of roots applied in gout and rheumatism.

Image: By Puskar Pande, FRI Dehradun