Semecarpus anacardium


Semecarpus anacardium, commonly known as the marking nut tree, phobi nut tree and varnish tree, is a native of India, found in the outer Himalayas to the Coromandel Coast. It is closely related to the cashew.

Etymology

Semecarpus anacardium was called the "marking nut" by Europeans because it was used by washermen to mark cloth and clothing before washing, as it imparted a water insoluble mark to the cloth.
The specific epithet anacardium was used by apothecaries in the 16th century to refer to the plant's fruit. It was later used by Linnaeus to refer to the cashew.

Description

It is a deciduous tree. Like the closely related cashew, the fruit is composed of two parts, a reddish-orange accessory fruit and a black drupe that grows at the end. The nut is about long, ovoid and smooth lustrous black. The accessory fruit is edible and sweet when ripe, but the black fruit is toxic and produces a severe allergic reaction if it is consumed or its resin comes in contact with the skin. The seed inside the black fruit, known as godambi, is edible when properly prepared.

Uses in Ayurvedic medicine

It is used for improving sexual power and increasing sperm count, curing diseases related to the digestive system and balancing Kapha dosha in the body. It is said that, no Kapha dosha remains after it is treated with this fruit. The red-orange part is collected and dried in the sun. It is consumed after it is semi-dried. If consumed in very large quantities, it is said to induce abortion. However, in moderation it is considered good for the female reproductive system.
Apart from its medicinal properties, it is also poisonous without any purification and the oil from its seeds can give blisters and painful wounds.