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Kaitha

Local Name	:	Kaitha
Botanical Name	:	Limonia acidissima L.
Common Name	:	Wood apple, Elephant apple
Family	:	Rutaceae
Distribution	:	Found throughout Odisha. Distributed all over India except high altitude Himalayan region. This species is native to various regions of South and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Habit	:	Tree
Short Description	:	It is a medium-sized tree, recognized for its hard, woody shell and tart, aromatic pulp used in traditional medicine and culinary applications.

Descriptions

It is a medium-sized tree. Leaves are compound, alternate, imparipinnate, with 4–7 dark green leaflets. The leaflets are oval to elliptical in shape, with serrated margins. Flowers are small, greenish-white to yellowish. Fruits are also known as wood apples, large, round, and woody. The pulp contains numerous seeds embedded within it.

Flowering & Fruiting Period

May-December

Use(s)

Fruits are edible. The unripe fruit is used to treat cough.