Beleric

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Terminalia bellerica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Combretaceae Genus: Terminalia Species: T. bellerica
Binomial name
Terminalia bellerica (Gaertn.) Roxb.

Beleric, also known as the bastard myrobalan, Terminalia bellerica, is a large deciduous tree common on plains and lower hills in Southeast Asia, where it is also grown as an avenue tree.

The leaves are about 15 cm long and crowded toward the ends of the branches. It is considered a good fodder for cattle.

This species is used by some tribes in the Indian subcontinent for hallucination purposes; they smoke dried kernels. Too much of this can cause nausea and vomiting.

Terminalia bellerica Roxb seeds have an oil content of 40%, the fatty-acid methyl ester of which meets all of the major biodiesel requirements in the USA (ASTM D 6751-02, ASTM PS 121-99), Germany (DIN V 51606) and European Union (EN 14214).^[1]

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