Leaves : Opposite, elliptic-oblong, acuminate, thick, leathery, dark green, numerous lateral parallel veins and intermediate nerves those are joined by intra-marginal veins.
Flowers :
Yellow red or purple in few-flowered fascicles.
Sepals 4 circular.
Petals 4, broad-ovate, fleshy.
Stamens 15-20, free with slender filaments, flat or fused at base.
Ovary 2 or more-celled with thick, stigma sessile, 5-8 lobed stigma.
Fruit :
Globose with persistent calyx above, rind thick.
Seeds 6-8 flat, large embedded in snow-white delicious pulp.
Flowering and Fruiting : May - June
Significance :
Generally cultivated for its much prized fruit.
The pulp has flavor somewhat similar to flavor of grape and peach.
The edible portion is the fleshy aril enveloping the seeds.
The fruit is used as dessert and can be made into preserve.
Rind is astringent, used as a febrifuge in chronic diarrhea, cystitis, gonorrhea, gleets and in dysentery.
Also used in tanning and dyeing.
Its pericarp is used as a paste for treating skin infections, bark, rind and young leaves are used as gargle for sore mouth.
Wood is used for cabinet work, buildings and handles.
