Bodde mara

Bodde Mara (Ardisia solanacea) one of the native trees in kodagu is a 1.5 to 6 meters high evergreen shrub or small tree. The thick branches are usually colored red. The bark is smooth and brown. The glabrous leaves are inversely lanceolate, they are 7.5 to 17 cm long and 2.5 to 7 cm wide.It is cultivated in gardens in tropical countries for its evergreen habit and showy pink flowers

Kodava

Bodde mara

Botanical Name

 Ardisia solanacea Roxb.

Family

 MYRSINACEAE

Uses

The plant posesses stimulant and carminative properties. Roots are febrifuge, used in diarrhoea and rheumatism. Root-bark boiled water is used to wash sores and paste of root bark is applied to heal sores.