SafePlants

Aphanamixis polystachya - Pithraj Tree

Aphanamixis polystachya, commonly known as the Pithraj tree, is a tree species belonging to the Meliaceae family.

Considerations for Pets

• The bark, leaves, and seeds are considered useful parts of the plant, potentially containing substances that could be of concern if ingested by pets.

Considerations for Children

• The bark, leaves, and seeds are considered useful parts of the plant, potentially containing substances that could be of concern if ingested by children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) Parker
• Family: Meliaceae
• Synonyms:
  • Aglaia polystachya Wall.
  • Amoora rohituka (Roxb.) Wt. & Arn.
  • Aphanamixis grandifolia Blume (sometimes listed as a synonym, but other sources treat them as distinct)
  • Amoora aphanamixis
  • Aphanamixis rohituka

Common Names

• Pithraj Tree
• Harin-hara, Harinkhana (Hindi)
• Heirangkhoi (Manipuri)
• Raktharohida (Marathi)
• sem-ma-ram (Tamil)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to India (including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh), Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
• Grows as an understorey to subcanopy tree in evergreen forests, up to 1300 m in altitude.

Morphological Characteristics

• Trees or shrubs, polygamo-dioecious.

Traditional Uses

• The bark has been traditionally used as an astringent for spleen and liver diseases, tumors, and abdominal complaints.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Seed extracts have shown repellent, feeding deterrent, and contact toxicity effects on Tribolium castaneum (a common pest of stored products).

Quirky Facts

• The genus name Aphanamixis comes from Blume, who described it in 1825.
• The plant exhibits antifeedant activity attributed to limonoids isolated from it.

Further Information

• Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K), Herbarium Specimens
• Discover Life