Kahruba / Indian Copal Tree
Vateria indica
Also known as White Dammer, Piney Varnish
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala
- Flowering
- March-August
How to identify Kahruba
Identify Kahruba by combining habit, leaf characters, flower or fruit details, location, and its family pattern. Do not rely on one feature alone.
- Look for a tree habit.
- Check the distinctive field mark: Bark exudes white copal resin (dammar/piney varnish).
- Confirm leaf shape: Elliptic (widest at middle).
- In season, compare flowering and fruiting time: March-August.
- In India, compare location records such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala.
- Confirm it sits within the Dipterocarpaceae family pattern, then compare close relatives before deciding it is Kahruba.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Vateria indica
- Genus
- Vateria
- Family
- Dipterocarpaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Evergreen and semi-Evergreen forests at elevations 40-840 m, also in the plains
- Habitat type
- Forest
- Native to
- India
- Distribution
- India
- Found in India
- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala
- Flowering & fruiting
- March-August
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (LC)
Leaf characters
- Leaf shape
- Elliptic (widest at middle)recorded
Characters marked “recorded” are for Kahruba itself; the rest are typical of the Dipterocarpaceae family.
Local Names
- Hindi
- कहरुबा Kahruba, सफेद डामर Safed Daamar, Kahruba, Sageddamar
- Tamil
- துருளக்கம் Turulakkam, வெள்ளைக்குங்கிலியம் Vellai-K-Kunki-Liyam, Attam, Kukkil
- Telugu
- తెల్లగుగ్గిలము Tellaguggilamu, Doopadamaru, Telladamaramu
- Kannada
- ಬಿಳಿ ಧೂಪ Bili Dhupa, ಬಿಳಿ ಗುಗ್ಗಲ Bili Guggala, ಬೆಳುವ Beluva, Bilidupa
- Malayalam
- കുന്തിരിക്കപ്പൈൻ Kunthirikkappayin, പയിനി Payini, വെള്ളപ്പൈൻ Vellappayin, Kunthirikkapayin
- Marathi
- चंद्रुस Chandrusa, धूप Dhoop, Dhup
About Kahruba
A member of the Dipterocarpaceae family, Indian Copal Tree (Vateria indica) is a tree. In India it has been recorded in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. It grows in evergreen and semi-Evergreen forests at elevations 40-840 m, also in the plains. Flowering and fruiting run from March to August.
Uses
It is long used in traditional medicine and tapped for gum or resin. Those medicinal uses are traditional attributions, not medical advice.
Dipterocarpaceae
Dipterocarp/Sal family
Kahruba belongs to the Dipterocarpaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
Explore the Dipterocarpaceae familySnap it. Know it.
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Common plant problems
If you are starting from symptoms instead of a diagnosis, use the plant disease symptom checker to narrow the cause before treating.
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