Catechu Tree.( Seesiat Nuea)

Medicinal Plants in Thailand.

Acacia catechu (Linn, f.) Willd.
FABACEAE
Catechu Tree, Cutch Tree
Thai name : Seesiat Nuea

Tree, 10-15 m high; branch with pairs of prickles free from each other; petiole strongly laterally com­pressed, curved, never embracing branchlet, solid, shorter than 1 cm. Leaves bipinnate, alternate; pinnae 9-30 pairs, 9-17 cm long; leaflets 20-50 pairs, oblong. Inflorescence in axillary spike; flowers yellowish white. Pod shortly beak, flat, shining brown.

Wood: chop into small pieces, boil gently with water, filter, boil to browish black paste, form into round balls; dried version called "Black catechu"; contains tannin and is astringent; antidiarrheal.

By: Medicinal Plants in Thailand
Volume 1

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