1

HERITAGE TREES OF THENI DISTRICT

TERMINALIA BELLERICA (THANI) TREE IN MEGAMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY WITH A GIRTH

OF 11.2 M (36.7 feet) & A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 32 M (105 feet), ASSESSED TO BE ABOUT 500
YEARS OLD

TERMINALIA BELLERICA (THANI) TREE IN MEGAMALAI SANCTUARY WITH A GIRTH OF 6.88 M

(22.6 feet) AND A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 35 M (114 feet)-TALLEST TREE-ASSESSED TO BE ABOUT
200 YEARS OLD

The Trade name is Behera or The Belleric Myrabolan. This is called Thani in Tamil; Thani
in Malayalam; Thani, Thandra or Thadi in Telugu; Santi, Thare or Thani in Kannada
and Bahera in Hindi. This is a large, deciduous tree with straight and tall bole. This is found
with massive crown in deciduous forests up to 910 metres. Though this is a deciduous tree,
it is mostly found growing in Western Ghats areas where there is very good moisture. This is
seen in between Sal forests at the foot hill of Himalayas. This belongs to the family
 2

Combretaceae. The wood is used after immersion in water for house building, packing
cases, etc. The fruit forms one of the myrabolans of commerce. The fruits are used in
tanning, dyeing and making ink. Kernel is edible and the oil obtained is used for hair. The
fruits are a favourite food of monkeys, deer, sheep, goats and cattle. Ripe fruits are used as
an astringent in combination with chebulic myrabolan (Terminalia chebula-Kadukkai) and
Emblica officinalis (Nelli) as the famous Triphala drug of Ayurveda. In Siddha, the fruit, leaf
and seed are used for treating guinea worm disease, leucorrhoea, veneral diseases,
hypertension, pox and dyspnoea. In Ayurveda, the fruits are used for treating bronchial
asthma, eye diseases, diseases of throat, oedema, diarrhoea, constipation, worm infestation
and cardiac diseases. This can be grown in areas where the annual rain fall is above 1000
mm. Grown up trees are found to be drought tolerant to a certain extent. This tree can be
grown on tank bunds and along the river banks.

250 YEAR OLD FICUS RELIGIOSA (ARASA MARAM) TREE IN A PRIVATE LAND IN BETWEEN
PODANTHAPURAM AND SADAYALPATTI ON THE RIGHT OF THENI-KUMILI ROAD-5 KM
ALONG UPPUKOTTAI ROAD WITH A GIRTH OF 8.77 M (28.7 feet) & A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 21
M (68.9 feet) IN THENI DISTRICT

This is a large tree without aerial roots. This is a sacred tree for Hindus and Buddhists.
Mostly this tree is widely planted on village sites and near temples. The trade name is The
Peepal tree. This is called Arasu in Tamil, Arasu or Arei-al in Malayalam, Rai or Ragi in
Telugu, Arali or Aroli or Asvatham in Kannada and Pipal in Hindi. The scientific name is
Ficus religiosa. This belongs to the family Moraceae.

This tree is found growing in areas with 500 mm annual rain fall. This is a deciduous tree,
shedding the leaves at the commencement of summer and attains new flush of leaves
before the completion of the dry season.

Since Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under this tree, this is considered as a sacred
tree by the Buddhists.
 3

The wood is used for packing cases, fuel and charcoal. Elephants are fond of the bark and
leaves. Lac can be cultivated on the bark.

The root, bark, leaf and seed are used for treating ulcers, diseases of pittam, constipation,
cough, dyspnoea, leucorrhoea, etc in Siddha.

The bark, figs and latex are used for treating oedema, uterine disorders, thirst, burning
sensation and polyuria in Ayurveda.

TOONA CELIATA (SANDHANA VEMBU) TREE IN MEGAMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY WITH A

GIRTH OF 6.21 M (20.4 feet) AND A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 36 M (118 feet), ASSESSED TO BE
ABOUT 250 YEARS OLD

Toona celiata is also known as Cedrela toona scientifically. This is sometimes known as
Indian Mahogany. The Trade name is Red cedar or Toon. This is known as Shevvagil,
Malavembu, Santhana vembu or Karansuli in Tamil; Madagiri vembu, Chuvannagil or
Mala veppu in Malayalam; Galimenu in Telugu; kampe-gandgheri in Kannada; Tun in
Hindi and Mohalumpu in Urdu. This belongs to the family Meliaceae. This is a large
deciduous tree found growing in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats up to 1200 metres.
The wood is used for cigar boxes, door panels, pencils, furniture, etc. Flowers yield an yellow
dye.

The bark is used in chronic dysentry of infants; also used as an external application for
ulcers. In Ayurveda, the bark is used for treating wounds, leprosy, blood disorders and
heamorrhage.
 4

150 YEAR OLD DALBERGIA LATIFOLIA (ROSEWOOD) TREE IN MEGAMALAI WILDLIFE

SANCTUARY WITH A GIRTH OF 2.87 M (9.4 feet) & A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 30 M (98 feet)

The Trade name is The Rosewood or Blackwood of Bombay. This is called Etti, Irupottu
or Thothagathi in Tamil; Veetti or Karu-veetti in Malayalam; Jitegi, Virugudu or Chava
in Telugu; Bete or Karimbetti in Kannada and Sihasi in Hindi. This belongs to the family
Lotoideae. This is a large deciduous (nearly evergreen) tree with rounded crown. This is
found growing in areas with the annual rainfall of more than 1250 mm, mostly in Western
Ghats. This is an economically important timber species. The timber is one of the most
handsome of furniture woods, prized as veneer for panelling, ordnance work, etc. Under the
Indian Forest Act, 1927, the exportation of timber products from wild harvested Dalbergia
latifolia is illegal. There is an international high demand and price for the wood because of
its very fine qualities like is strength and high density. But, the tree is slow growing. This is
endemic in the forests of southern India especially in Tamil Nadu. The trees were cut
indiscriminately because of their high timber value. As a result the population of this
species was dwindling and now it has become an endangered, threatened and rare species
and there is possibility of the species becoming extinct. So in order to save this tree form
extinction, Tamil Nadu Rosewood Trees (Conservation) Act was introduced in 1994
prohibiting felling, possession, transport and sale of Rosewood trees in the State.

V.Sundararaju, Former IFS Officer,

President, Society for Conservation of Nature (SOFCON),

Tamil Nadu, India. Mobile: 9443170366.

sundarifs.raju@gmail.com; www.sofcon.org