Description

Haldu is a flowering plant in the family Rubiaceae, the sole species in the genus Haldina. It is native to southern Asia, from India east to Yunnan and Vietnam and south to Peninsular Malaysia. It is known as Kadam or Kadamba in Hindi.

Features:

Haldu is a deciduous tree that can grow well over 20 metres high. The flowers may be insignificant individually but can be seen as attractive when they bloom together in inflorescences with a circumference of 20–30 mm. Oppositely arranged leaves are broadly oval in shape, heart-shaped at the base and pointed at the tip. The flowers may be insignificant individually but are very pretty when they bloom together in balls with a circumference of 2 to 3 cm. They are usually yellow in colour often tinged with a shade of pink. Haldu is at its blossoming best during winter. The bark of the tree acts as an antiseptic. Flowering: June-August.

Medicinal Uses:

The bark is antiseptic and febrifuge. The juice of the plant is applied externally to kill worms in sores. An infusion of the roots is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.