Malabar Nut Tree (Justicia adhatoda)
Scientific Name: Justicia adhatoda — Vasaka, Adulsa.
Native Home: Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia.
Height: Usually 1–3 metres.
Lifespan: Several years; a perennial evergreen shrub.
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Not used for timber; valued for its leaves.
Harvesting: Mature leaves are collected and dried for commercial botanical products.
Age to Harvest: Leaves may be harvested once the shrub is established, often within 1–2 years.
Products: Dried leaves, botanical extracts, herbal products, and ornamental nursery plants.
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Traditionally used in Ayurveda and other South Asian systems, particularly in respiratory preparations.
Global Spread: Native to South Asia and cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions.
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