Apta (Bauhinia racemosa) - Rare medicinal tree
English : Bidi- leaf tree
Gujarati : Asotaro
Hindi : Sirhata
Marathi : Aapto
Sanskrit : Anupushpak, Ashmantak
Tamil : Atthi
Telugu : Goddari
Apta is a rare medicinal tree and can grow in very harsh climatic conditions and in poor soil.
Apta - Medicinal Use:-
1. Apta is used as a cure for digestive diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery.
2. Apta has anti-tumour qualities and is used to treat the first stages of cancer.
Apta - Identification:-
Apta is a small fibrous tree and has leaves with two lobes and has small white flowers. Several species of Bauhinia in India and often the more commonly occurring Kanchan which has pink flowers gets mistaken for the Apta.
Apta leaves are used for making bidis.
In many communities in central India, there is a ritual of exchanging the leaves of the Apta as a symbol of gold during Dasara. Leaves of the apta are offered as gold to God and friends. Conventionally, gold should be gifted by the young to the old. There is a story connected with this custom.
Sri Ram’s ancestor relative’s name was king Raghu. He was very generous. After a great ‘Yagna’ (Prayer) the king had distributed all his wealth among the poor.
Raghu had nothing left to give a poor boy, who came to his door step asking for alms. Raghu attacked Kuber, the God of Wealth. As gold rained on earth, some of it fell on the Apta tree. Since then people exchange leaves of the Apta tree on Dussehra day.
One of the traditional ways of celebrating Dussehra in Maharashtra is to offer friends and family leaves of the 'Apta' tree. This tree, Bauhinia Racemosa, is also known as 'Sonpatta', being considered to be as valuable as gold for its medicinal value.
List of stores for Apta saplings:
Oikos Ecological Services
Contact: Ketaki or Mansi
Kothrud
Phone: 65289576
Mobile: 98226 59804
Jagtap Nursery
Camp - 2636 3432
List of stores having gift packs for individuals who would like to offer Apta saplings as gifts to friends and family.
eCoexist
Sohrab Hall
Phone: 26050225
Ravindra
24 letter mantra, Baner
Mobile: 9326727654
Nilaya Bandhej
Senapati Bapat Road
Phone: 25660790
eCoexist
Kalyani Nagar
Mobile: 9850084383
