Distribution and habitat: Found in mixed deciduous forests. It is common throughout central India. In the forest of Karnataka and Kerala, at low elevations.

Botany A large evergreen tree with a dense spreading crown with dark grey or brownish scaly bark. 

• Leaves:  Alternate or sub opposite, clustered near the ends of the branches, up to 18 cm long, 4 cm broad with slender petioles and 12-15 pairs of main nerves. 
• Flowers: Dense   fascicles, terminal or from axis of fallen leaves, cream coloured, corolla tubular, fleshy, pale yellow, aromatic and coducous.
• Fruits: Ovoid, 1-3 seeded berries turning yellow when ripe. Seeds are ovoid, ellipsoid, polished, brown in colour.

Properties:

1. Its bark is astringent, tonic and useful in fracture, cysts, rheumatic affections, diabetes mellitus and itch.
2. Leaves are astringent and used for burns and scalds.
3. Flowers are cooling, demulcent, expectorant, tonic, nutritive and stimulant.

Chemical constituents: 

1. Seed kernels yield madhuca oil.
2. Fruit on steam distillation yield a volatile oil.
3. Nuts have Sucrose, β-sitosterol, and a glucoside
4. From bark Lupeol acetate, β-amyrin acetate, betulinin, oleanolic acids

Uses: They are useful in coughs, chronic bronchitis, wasting diseases, general debility and piles. Oil obtained from seeds is useful for application in skin diseases and chronic rheumatism. It is also used in inflammations, sprains and pruritus, epilepsy, strangury, dermatopathy, cephalalgia, hemorrhoids dipsia and consumption.Verminosis, hepatopathy, gastropathy especially in children.

Formulations: Madhukasav, Kutajarishta, Kanakasav and Parthadyarista.

Agrotechnology

Soil: All types of soil

Propagation: Seed