Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department authorities cut the bark of an Indian laurel tree (Terminalia tomentosa) found in the Papikonda National Park in the Rampa Agency of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district to learn that the tree indeed stores water, particularly in the summer, as claimed by the Konda Reddi tribe.
- Konda Reddi tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group inhabiting the Papikonda hill range in the Godavari region.
- During parched summers, the Indian laurel tree stores water that has a strong smell and tastes sour; an amazing adaptation observed in trees of the Indian forests.
- Known as Indian Silver Oak, the timber of the Indian laurel has great commercial value.
- The bark is fire-resistant.
