Vrksamlah tree is a medicinal plant that is accepted for its use in the medicinal sectors, carries the scientific name `Carcinia gummi-gutta (L.) Robs`. This plant is recognized in different languages in different names. The people who speak in Kannada call it by the name of `Mantulli` or some people call it `Simai hunase`, in Malayalam this plant has been recognized as the `Kadumpuli` plant and in Telugu this is called `Simachinta`. The people of Maharashtra call it `Dharambe` and it is well recognized in the name of `Kodakkapuli` among the people of Tamil Nadu.
The Vrksamlah tree is common in the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. This tree is distributed from Konkan (southwestern Maharashtra) southwards to southern Kerala, and in the Shola forests of Nilgiris to an altitude of 1800 metre.
Vrksamlah tree is found as a small or medium sized tree with a rounded crown and horizontal or drooping branches. Leaves are dark green and shining, are elliptic obovate, 5cm to 13cm long and 2.5cm to 7.5cm wide. Male flowers are fascicled and the female flowers are solitary. The edible fruit is ovoid, 5 cm in diameter, gets yellow or red at the time of ripening and are with 6 to 8 grooves. The fruit has 6-8 seeds surrounded by a succulent aril. Flowers generally blossom during the hot season from April to June and fruits ripen during the rainy season from July to October.
The dried fruits of Vrksamlah tree are rich in tartaric acid and own marked antiseptic properties. A decoction of the fruit rind is taken internally to treat rheumatism and bowel complaints. Resin is derived from the bark of the tree and is used as a purgative.
