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

Mimusops elengi

Syn. Kaukenia elengi

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Bakul Tree (English)
  • Maulsari (Hindi)
  • Borsali (Gujarati)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Sapotaceae
12m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Mimusops elengi bark

Bark

Dark grey to grayish-brown, rough, fissured bark.

Mimusops elengi leaves

Leaves

Simple, elliptical, shiny dark green, wavy margin, 5-15 cm long.

Mimusops elengi flower

Flower

Small, star-shaped, creamy-white, intensely sweet-scented.

Mimusops elengi fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Ovoid berry, yellow/orange-red when ripe, edible, sweet-astringent. 1-2 seeds, ovoid, shiny dark brown or black.

Mimusops elengi

Did you know?

In Ayurveda, its bark, unripe fruits and seeds are traditionally used in oral care. Its astringent properties have made it a popular ingredient in traditional remedies for gum health and bad breath.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

S. India to Vanuatu, Trinidad-Tobago, Vietnam, Windward Is.