What is Hijol?

About Hijol:

• Hijol, or Indian oak, is a medium-sized evergreen tree.
• Scientific Name: Barringtonia acutangula
• Common names: Hijal, Hijangal, Hendol, Stream Barringtonia, Itchy Tree.
• Distribution:
  • It is native to coastal wetlands in southern Asia and northern Australasia.
  • This species grows on the banks of freshwater rivers, the edges of freshwater swamps and lagoons and on seasonally flooded lowland plains, commonly on heavy soils. 
  • It is commonly found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna basin.
• Features:
  • This plant is a big tree that grows to about 8–15 m high. 
  • Its leaves are thick, smooth and oval in shape, about 8–12 cm long and 4–5 cm wide, with reddish petioles about 0.5–1.0 cm long.
  • Flowers are small, pink to red, sub-sessile, and purple-red with numerous stamens.
• Medicinal uses:
  • Its bark has tannin, which is useful for heart diseases. 
  • Powder of seeds works as an expectorant and is applied to cure the cough of children.
  • Tonic is prepared from leaves and roots. Fish poison is also prepared from its roots.