A tropical tree (Morinda citrifolia) native to South and Southeast Asia, also called Indian mulberry, valued for its wood and medicinal properties.
From Malayalam/Indian language origins, the word entered English through colonial trade in Southeast Asia. The tree name reflects the region where it was first identified and cultivated.
The antal tree is a fascinating example of a plant that was nearly forgotten in its native regions but has been rediscovered by modern nutritionists—the juice is now marketed as 'noni' and promoted as a superfood, showing how global trade can resurrect traditional knowledge.
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