Crateva religiosa

• Botanical Name : Crateva religiosa G. Forst.
• Common Name : Vayvarno, The Sacred Barna, Caper
• Plant Family : Capparaceae or Capparidaceae
• Plant Form : Tree
• Occurrence (Sectors) : 28
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Van Chetana Kendra

About Crateva religiosa Plant :

• Habit : A small deciduous tree.
• Leaves : Trifoliate, often clustered at the ends of branches, long petioled, leaflets ovate, acuminate, glabrous, shining above, pale below.
• Inflorescence : Terminal corymbs.
• Flowers :
  • White, Sepals ovate, small, petaloid.
  • Petals 4, clawed, veined, stamens many, filaments purple. Ovary raised on a long gynophore, ovoid, stigma sessile.
• Fruit : Rounded, woody berry. Seeds reniform buried in yellow pulp.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : February-March
• Significance : It is a sacred plant and the leaves, bark and root are used in medicine as poultices or used in tanning.