Identity:
The ata tree is found throughout India to varying degrees. With many branches, the tree grows to about 10–15 feet in height. The bark is gray in color. The leaves are about 3–4 inches long and around 1.5 inches wide.
The leaf tips gradually taper. From the junction of the stem and the leaf, single or paired yellowish (ghee-colored) flowers appear. These thick-petaled flowers are about an inch long. The ata tree usually flowers in March. The fruits ripen in May–June, are green, and have a pleasant fragrance. The fruit is very sweet, almost honey-like. Inside, there are fleshy segments, and the seeds are black and flat.
Uses:
Ata leaves act as an insect repellent. The ripe fruit is strengthening and helps balance bile. Medicines are made from the pulp, seeds, and roots of the tree.
