Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Buchanania lanzan

Syn. Buchanania latifolia

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Chironji Tree (English)
  • Char (Hindi)
  • Charoli (Gujarati)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Anacardiaceae
15m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Buchanania lanzan bark

Bark

Dark, grey/black, rough, deeply fissured into squares, and reddish inside.

Buchanania lanzan leaves

Leaves

Thick, leathery, oblong, and used in traditional medicine for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and wound healing properties.

Buchanania lanzan flower

Flower

Small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers in large, branched clusters (panicles)

Buchanania lanzan fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Yields edible kernels known as Chironji or Charoli, prized for their almond-like flavor.

Buchanania lanzan

Did you know?

Its small, edible seed kernels, known as chironji, are used as a costly nut-like ingredient in Indian sweets and desserts.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Indian Subcontinent to China (S. Yunnan) and Indo-China