Bridelia retusa

Bridelia retusa
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Phyllanthaceae
Genus:	Bridelia
Species:	B. retusa
Binomial name
Bridelia retusa (L.) A.Juss.

Bridelia retusa is a plant found in Bangladesh, Nepal, ^[2] India, Sri Lanka, southern China, Indochina, Thailand and Sumatra. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

This is the most common Indian species of Bridelia , found in dry deciduous to moist deciduous forests, mixed forest, riverbanks, rocky places, up to 2,000 m (6,560 ft) in South India, 600 m (1,970 ft) in central and Central-East India, 1,600 m (5,250 ft) on the Himalayas and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) in North-east India. It is found throughout the country excluding Andaman and Nicobar Islands. ^[6] The bark of the roots is used in traditional medicine. ^[7]

Description

Male flower

Bridelia retusa has pale grey bark, often spiny when young to deter browsers. It becomes dark brown and fissured with the scales lifting off. The leaves are about 15 cm long and are blunt or pointy at the tip. The leaves are rounded or heart-shaped at base and are hairy and paler below. ^[8]

Flowers are small and green in color and grow on leafless twigs in clusters. The petals are white and very small, while the sepals are larger. The fruit is greenish at first and ripens to a purplish-black color with two stones inside. ^[8]

Uses

The fruit is eaten by birds such as hornbills. The flowers are an excellent attractor of butterflies and its leaves are used as fodder. ^[8]

References

1. Ye, J.F.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Bridelia retusa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T147644815A147644817. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T147644815A147644817.en . Retrieved 10 January 2026.
2. "Bridelia retusa". forestrynepal.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-26.
3. "Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families".
4. "Bridelia retusa in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org.
5. "Medicinal Plants Database of Bangladesh: Bridelia retusa (L.) Spreng". Archived from the original on 2011-02-03. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
6. Balakrishnan, Nambiyath P (2012). Loranthaceae - Daphniphyllaceae. Flora of India. Vol. 23. Botanical Survey of India. p. 558. ISBN   9788181770493 . Retrieved August 3, 2017.
7. "Bridelia retusa - Spinous Kino Tree".
8. Krishen, Pradip (2013). Jungle Trees of Central India. Penguin Books. ISBN   9780143420743.