Bhalia
Semecarpus anacardium
📖 About this plant
Semecarpus anacardium (marking nut tree or ‘Bhalia’ in Odia, also called Bhilawa) is a medium deciduous tree of the Anacardiaceae family. The tree produces black heart-shaped fruits on a fleshy orange receptacle — the fruit juice causes severe contact dermatitis (similar to poison ivy, also in Anacardiaceae). The purified fruit is used in Ayurvedic medicine for skin diseases, neurological disorders, and as a rasayana (rejuvenative). The name ‘marking nut’ comes from the traditional use of fruit juice to mark laundry (permanent black dye). Wood is used for furniture. The tree should be planted with caution — fruit juice is hazardous.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to partial shade
Regular
Moderate to high
20-35°C
Well-draining loam
Compost annually
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- India
- 📏 Max height
- 10-15 m
- 📐 Spread
- 5-7 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer (small yellow-green flowers)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Yellow-green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Deciduous large leathery green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 40+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- TOXIC — fruit juice causes severe skin blistering (similar to poison ivy); used medicinally only after purification
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds
🛡️ Health & Safety
TOXIC — fruit juice causes severe skin blistering (similar to poison ivy); used medicinally only after purification
Common issues
- Leaf spot, fruit rot
💡 Care tips
- CAUTION — fruit juice causes skin blistering. Plant away from high-traffic areas. Handle fruits with gloves.
