Holigarna arnottiana is a deciduous tree belonging to family Anacardiaceae.[1] This tree is distributed along South West parts of India[1] and is endemic to Western Ghats, from Central and South Sahyadris.[2] It is commonly known as black varnish tree or Malabar marking nut or കരിഞ്ചേര്.[3]
A large tree, with finely fissured bark. White latex turning black upon contact with air. Leaves are simple, alternate, arranged spirally, clustered at twig ends. Flowers are borne in panicles, 12-24 cm long, golden yellow pubescent, in leaf axils or at branch ends. Flowers are polygamous, greenish white. Fruit is obliquely ovoid, 1-seeded.[4]
Canopy trees in wet evergreen to semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, up to 1200 m.[5]
Flowering and Fruiting: January-July.[6]
In Ayurveda, the plant is believed to be helpful in treatment of inflammation, arthritis, hemorrhoids, obesity, tumor, cancer, and skin diseases[2] .It is estimated that bio-Fabricated Silver Nanoparticles from the Leaf Extract of Holigarna arnottiana had antimicrobial, antimitotic, anticancer, and radical-scavenging properties.[7]