CSIR-NEERI Biodiversity Portal

FALSE ASHOK

Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.)

Botanical name	: Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.)
Synonym	: Unona longifolia (Sonn.)
Vernacular name	: False Ashok / Debdaru / Debdar / Saralgach
Family	: Annonaceae
About the Tree	: Polyalthia longifolia is a tall, handsome, evergreen tree with willowy weeping pendulous branches and long narrow leaves cultivated in most parts of Sri Lanka and India as an avenue tree and around temples for its religious significance. Although the wood is not very durable, it is utilized to some extent in making matches, boxes, and packing crates.
Height	: Grows up to 9-10m
Bark	: Bark dark grayish brown in colour and is smooth.
Leaf	: Leaves 7-20 cm long, narrowly lanceolate with wavy edges. Fresh leaves are a coppery brown color and are soft and delicate to touch , as the leaves grow older the color becomes a light green and finally a dark green.
Flower	: Flowers are 2.5-3.8 cm in size. The flowers are delicate, star-like, which, being palest-green in colour, give the tree a peculiar hazy appearance. They grow in clusters from small protuberances all along the dark branchlets. Each flower, borne on a slim, green stem has a tiny calyx and six long, narrow, wavy petals arranged in two sets of three.
Fruits	: Fruit is born in clusters of 10-20, initially green but turning purple or black when ripe. Fruits 18 mm long and ovoid in shape. These are loved by birds such as the Asian koel and bats including flying foxes.
Season	: Flowers appear during March and April.
Medicinal Properties Peculiar Character	: The bark is used as a febrifuge in the treatment of fever. Alcoholic extract of the leaf possesses strong antifungal and antibacterial properties against wide range of pathogens. : Commonly planted due to its effectiveness in alleviating noise pollution.