The Ukãy, Salvadora persica (Salvadoraceae): Historical and literary evidence from stone inscriptions, copper plates, and literature

Salvadora persica occurs widely in the dry and semi-arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, where it is commonly used as a ‘toothbrush’. The present paper attempts to chronicle the history of S. persica in present-day Tamil Nadu. Sangam literature (300 BCE–300 CE) in Tamil is widely acknowledged for identifying floral and faunal elements of parts of Southern India, particularly modern Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The description of floral elements in Sangam literature, when definitively linked to the present-day scientifically determined plant identities, enables us to estimate and evaluate their present distribution. In addition, this paper collates the references to the plant ukãy from both Sangam and the later-period Tamil literature and traces the history and use of this plant in the Tamil region.