Citrus medica

Botanical name : Citrus medica Linn.
Family : Rutaceae

SANSKRIT SYNONYMS
Matulunga

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Amla, Kashaya
Guna : Lakhu, Snigdha
Virya : Ushna

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Citron
Hindi : Baranimbu, Bijaira
Malayalam : Ganapatinarakam

Distribution – Growing wild in evergreen forests, also cultivated.

PLANT DESCRIPTION
An evergreen shrub or small tree grows up to 4 meters in height, with thorny branches. Leaves simple, alternate, oblong or elliptic, acute or obtuse, coriaceous, glabrous and pellucid-punctate. Thorns arise from leaf axils. Flowers white, found in axillary cymes; fruits large irregular surfaced berries, fleshy, become yellow when ripe. Fruits contain many smooth seeds.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plant pacifies vitiated kapha, pitta, anorexia, vomiting, tumors, asthma, cough, constipation, worm infestations, cardiac debility, jaundice, skin diseases, inflammations, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and hemorrhoids.
Useful part : Fruits, Root, Leaves.