Kutaja / Kurchi
Holarrhena pubescens
Also known as Tellicherry Bark, Bitter Oleander, Easter Tree, Jasmine Tree, Coessi Bark, Ivory Tree
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & more
- Flowering
- March-October
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Holarrhena pubescens
- Genus
- Holarrhena
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Deciduous and scrub forests
- Native to
- Africa, Asia
- Distribution
- India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indo-China, Tropical Himalayas, Nepal, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand, Vietnam, East Africa, South Africa, Laos, Pakistan
- Found in India
- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, Assam
- Flowering & fruiting
- March-October
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (LC)
Leaf characters
- Arrangement
- Opposite
Typical of the Apocynaceae family — a field-mark hint, not measured for this exact species.
Flower & fruit characters
Typical of the Apocynaceae family — flowering plants only; individual species can differ.
Local Names
- Hindi
- कडवा इंद्रजव Karva Indrajau, कुटज Kutaja, kurchi
- Nepali
- बन खिर्रो Ban Khirro, मधिसे खिर्रो Madhire Khirro, इन्द्रजौ Indrajau
- Bengali
- Kurchi, কুটজ Kutaja, কুর্চি
- Tamil
- கிரிமல்லிகை Kirimllikai, குடசப்பாலை Kutaca-P-Palai, மலைமல்லிகை Mlaimllikai, குடசப்பாலை
- Telugu
- గిరిమల్లిక Girimallika, కొడిసెపాల Kodisepala, కోలముక్కు Kolamukku
- Kannada
- ಕೊಡಸಿಗೆ Kodasige, Koodsaloo, Korchie
- Malayalam
- കുടകപ്പാല Kutakappaala, കുടകപ്പാല
- Marathi
- इंद्रजव Indrajav, कुटज Kutaja, पांढरा कुडा Pandhra Kuda, पांढरा कुडा
Kutaja in India
This small tree, known as कडवा इंद्रजव Karva Indrajau (Hindi), கிரிமல்லிகை Kirimllikai (Tamil), గిరిమల్లిక Girimallika (Telugu), ಕೊಡಸಿಗೆ Kodasige (Kannada), കുടകപ്പാല Kutakappaala (Malayalam), इंद्रजव Indrajav (Marathi), is valued for its bark in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Holarrhena pubescens is found across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala, Assam, typically in deciduous forest.
Uses
Its bark and seeds have a long history of traditional Ayurvedic use, particularly for digestive complaints — an attributed traditional use, not a medical claim.
How to Identify Kutaja
A small deciduous tree with milky sap and broad, opposite, oval leaves. Clusters of white, jasmine-scented flowers appear in the rainy season, followed by long, slender, paired seed pods that split to release tufted, wind-dispersed seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Kurchi called in different Indian languages?
- कडवा इंद्रजव Karva Indrajau (Hindi); கிரிமல்லிகை Kirimllikai (Tamil); గిరిమల్లిక Girimallika (Telugu); ಕೊಡಸಿಗೆ Kodasige (Kannada); കുടകപ്പാല Kutakappaala (Malayalam); इंद्रजव Indrajav (Marathi); Kurchi (Bengali).
- Is Kutaja the same as Kurchi?
- Yes — Kutaja is the Sanskrit/Ayurvedic name and Kurchi the more common trade name for the bark of Holarrhena pubescens.
- Why does it have milky sap?
- Like many members of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), it exudes a milky latex-like sap when cut, a common family trait.
Apocynaceae
Dogbane family
Kutaja belongs to the Apocynaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Apocynaceae
View all Apocynaceae →Sources: GBIF — Holarrhena pubescens (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Holarrhena pubescens (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)