The document summarizes information about the Ashoka tree. It describes the Ashoka tree's biological source as the dried stem bark of Saraca indica from the legume family. It provides details on the tree's leaves, flowers, and bark. It also discusses the tree's cultivation requirements including soil type, propagation methods, organic manure use, irrigation, and harvesting. Key chemical constituents are listed as tannin, catechol, sterol, and organic calcium compounds. The uses of Ashoka tree bark are as a blood purifier and for treating diabetes, piles, inflammation, and fungal infections.

1. ASHOKA TREE

2. ASHOKA TREE
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE: It
consist of dried stem bark
of Saraca indica belonging
to family Leguminosae.

3. OTHER NAMES:
 Hindi: Asoka
Telugu: Asokamu
Kannada: Asokada
Tamil: Asokam
Malayalam:Asokam
Sanskrit: Asokah

4. BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION :
 Leaves are narrowly lanceolate 15.25 cms
long cork like at the base and with a short
petiole.
Stipules are intra-petiolar and completely
united.Flowers are fragrant. They are 7.5-10
cms across Calyx is yellow to orange and
finally red. Its stamens are 7 to 8. The
filaments are filiform.
The bark of saraca indica is distinguished
by presence of wartyprotuberances on its
outer surface.

5. CULTIVATION:
 The plant requires slightly acidic to neutral soils for good growth .
 The crop can be propagated by seeds and stem grafting. The seedlings are
planted in the well manured field during the rainy season.
 Weeding and thinning of the plants may be done as and when required
usually after 15-30 days for better growth.
 The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use
of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-
Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the
species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single
or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura,
Cow's urine etc.
 Irrigation: Normally grown as rainfed crop but for better yield irrigation may
be done as per requirement (weekly/fortnightly).Harvesting/ post harvesting
operation: Bark is removed from about ten years or older tree and then it has
to be sun dried.

6. MACROSCOPIC CHARACTERS
 A. Colour Brown
 B. Odour Characteristic
 C. Taste Characteristic
 D. Appearance Free flowing powder

7. MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS
 Transverse section of stem bark shows periderm
consisting of a wide layer of cork, radially flattened
narrow cork cambium, secondary cortex wide with
one or two continuous
 layers of stone cells with many patches of sclereids,
parenchymatous tissue contains yellow masses
and prismatic crystals: secondary phloem consists
of phloem parenchyma, sieve tubes with
companion cells and phloem fibres occurring in
groups, crystal fibres presen

9. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
 the bark contains tannin, catechol, sterol, and
organic calcium compounds.

10. USES:
 Ashoka tree is a famous medicinal plant which
cures ample number of disorders. Each part of the
tree is loaded with one or the other health benefits.
Listed below are few effective health benefits of
Ashoka tree.
 Blood Purifier
 Diabetes
 Piles
 Inflammation
 Fungal Infection