Sanskrit authors call this priyangu though by the same name they also call two other plants Setaria italica Beauv a food grain which is kagun in Hindi and Callicarpa macrophylla vahl {phul priyangu in Hindi). Agalaia roxb rghiana Miq: is a tree and is called priyangu in Hindi and also Bengali.
The tree grows to a height of 20-24 feet. Its bark is greyish or buff coloured and slippery. Inner wood is red, not breaking easily and durable. Leaves are thin, oval, slippery and slightly yellowish. Flowers are arranged in elongated clusters and are yellowish. Fruits are roundish. 0.75 to 0.25 inches in diameter, somewhat like a neem fruit, but hairy and fragrant when young.
They become brownish and non-fragrant on drying. One or two seeds occur in a fruit; these are bitter, astringent and fragrant when fresh. On drying they also loose their fragrance.
The tree grows well in Chota Nagpur, West Bengal, Orissa and though Konkan coast to all over South India and Sri Lanka. It is quite prevalent in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The fruit is in medicinal use since ancient times under the name priyangu. This is probably the same priyangu which Bhavamishra a very reputed Ayurvedic author of the mediaeval times praises very much. This is a cool, astringent, nutritious and thirst quenching fruit. This has been found to be beneficial in fever, diseases that are bilious or accompanied with morbid swellings and also in leprosy. Eating of these fruits is a sure cure to get relieved of painful urinary disorders.
Seeds have the same properties as the fruits have. They also can be used for similar purpose.