Terminalia chebula Retz., a tree of India, yielded unripen fruits of pharmaceutical importance. They were adstringent (rich in tannins). The fruit was small, black, unedible, and contained imperfect seed. These aborted fruits were formed due to an infestation by an insect which laid eggs in it. This says the general history of herbal drugs. But the fruits became obsolete in European and American pharmacy in the 1950's. Now the question: the insect was probably never named in old pharmaceutical books. Any suggestion of the insect species would be welcome.
There are many reports on insect infestation on T. chebula. Several nymphs, thrips and gall infection are also reported on the plant species earlier in the Indian scenario. The images of the insect infestation on fruits will give more clear picture.
Chandrima,
thank you for your response.
Here are 2 pictures. The first is a historical image from the year 1737 but it's the only atlas of medicinal plants I know. The upper plant has those necrotic fruits.
The second image is a commercial product found on the Internet.
And maybe the same myrobalans are imaged here: https://www.canstockphoto.ch/chebulic-organische-myrobalan-32779581.html
I know that these image may be insufficient, that's all I have. Thank you in afvance for your effort and opinion.
Jacek
It is difficult to identify the disease causing agent in the plant species with the help of these images.
OK, thank you for your response and all efforts. Best regards from Poland, Jacek.
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