Laxmitaru Plant - Simarouba Glauca, Paradise Tree, Bitterwood

Simarouba glauca is a species of flowering tree that is native to Florida, South America, and the Lesser Antilles. Common names include paradise-tree, dysentery-bark, bitterwood and Lakshmi Taru. Its seeds produce an edible oil. The tree is well suited for warm, humid, tropical regions. Its cultivation depends on rainfall distribution, water holding capacity of the soil and sub-soil moisture. It is suited for temperature range of 10 to 40 °C (50 to 104 °F). It can grow at elevations from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It grows 40 to 50 ft (12 to 15 m) tall and has a span of 25 to 30 ft (7.6 to 9.1 m). It bears yellow flowers and oval elongated purple colored fleshy fruits.

It can be propagated from seeds, grafting and tissue culture technology. Fruits are collected in the month of April / May, when they are ripe and then dried in sun for about a week. Skin is separated and seeds are grown in plastic bags to produce saplings. Saplings 2 to 3 months old can be transplanted to a plantation.

The wood is generally insect resistant and is used in the preparation of quality furniture, toys, matches, as pulp (in paper making). It can be also used for industrial purposes in the manufacture of biofuel, soaps, detergents, lubricants, varnishes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals . Though there is some research claiming that Simarouba is effective for treating certain diseases, there seems to be insufficient evidence of curing diarrhea, malaria, edema, fever and stomach upset. Simarouba glauca is known in India as Lakshmi Taru, and a celebrity from Kerala as well as a doctor from Kerala have cautioned the public against using Simarouba as an alternate cure for cancer.