Beleric

Taxobox
name = "Terminalia bellerica"

---

regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Myrtales
familia = Combretaceae
genus = "Terminalia"
species = "T. bellerica"
binomial = "Terminalia bellerica"
binomial_authority = (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.

In traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine, Beleric is known as "Bibhitaki;" in its fruit form it is used in the popular Indian herbal rasayana treatment triphala.

This species is used by some tribes in the Indian subcontinent for its mind-altering qualities; they smoke dried kernels. Too much of this can cause nausea and vomiting. Fact|date=June 2008

"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). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.05.001 Prospects and potential of fatty acid methyl esters of some non-traditional seed oils for use as biodiesel in India]

References