LEARN ABOUT TREES
Maha-nimb is a large, deciduous lofty tree that can grow up to 100 feet tall. The bark is grayish-brown and has a rough texture. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and have about 11 to 17 leaflets. The leaflets are variable in shape, oblong-ovate to elliptic, and edges coarsely toothed and often lobed, unequal at base.
The flowers are small, greenish-yellow. The fruit is a samara,
long, which is a dry and winged. centre of the fruit.
Etymology:
The generic name ‘Ailanthus’ comes from ‘ailanthos’ (tree of heaven). The "excelsa" signifies the ideal nature of the tree.
Habitat & Distribution:
Tree grows well in semi- arid and semi-moist regions and has been found suitable for planting in dry areas with annual rainfall of about 400 mm. It is commonly found in mixed deciduous forests, but is rare in moist areas with high monsoons. It is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and along roadsides. It is found at altitudes of up to 4,000 feet.
Propagation: Tree can be propagated from seed or by air layering.
Uses:
• Strengthens the body's natural rejuvenate processes. This means that the plant helps to improve the body's ability to heal itself.
• Fruits are used against diarrhea, polyurea, piles and fever. The fruits of the plant can be used to treat a variety of digestive problems, they can also be used to reduce fever.
covered with soft hairs.
Inflorescence a large panicle,
3-5 cm
Seed one in the
• Leaves along with twigs are found to be suitable fodder for cattle,
sheep and goats. The leaves and twigs of the plant are a good source of nutrients for cattle,
sheep, and goats.
• Timber used for making toys, cases and other light articles.
• They can help to improve the health and productivity of these animals.
• The tree produces a gum that is inferior in quality to other types of gum. However, it
can still be used for a variety of purposes, such as making adhesives and paper.
Botanical name:
Alianthus excelsa Roxb.
Family:
Simaroubaceae
A relatively large evergreen tree, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves; height ranging from 40 to 50 feet.
It is The branches are spread wide. The leaves are
compound, imparipinnate, and measure 8 to 15 inches long. Leaves are densely clustered at the ends of the branches, with leaflets that are 1 to 4 inches long and 0.5 to 1.5 inches wide. The leaflets are obliquely lanceolate or occasionally falcate, with a pointed tip and an unequally sided base, displaying toothed margins. The tree produces small, sweet-scented flowers in panicles found in the axils of the leaves. The flowers have five white color petals. The fruit is a smooth (glabrous) olive- likedrupewhich varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish. The fruit skin is thin and turns yellow when ripe. The bitter-sweet pulp is yellowish-white and very
fibrous. The white, hard inner shell of the fruit encloses one seed.
Etymology:
Azadirachta comes from the Persian words āzād (free) and dirakht (tree), meaning "free tree" and indica means "of Indian origin".
Distribution:
The exact location of the neem plant is in India. However, it is found throughout the drier parts of the country. It is widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It thrives in a variety of habitats, including tropical and subtropical regions, and is often found in arid and semi- arid environments.
Propagation:
Neem can be propagated through seeds, which have a high germination rate, or vegetatively through stem cuttings.
Symbol: It is the state tree of Andhra Pradesh. Tree is considered a sacred tree in many cultures and is often associated with environmental protection and sustainable practices.
Uses:
• Medicine: Tree has been traditionally used in various medicinal applications. Its leaves, bark, seeds, and oil have potent antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in treating skin disorders, fever, and digestive issues, and as a general tonic.
• Agriculture: Neem extracts are widely used
as natural pesticides and insecticides. The bitter compounds present in neem act as repellents and disrupt the lifecycle of many pests.
• Cosmetic: Neem oil and leaves are commonly used in skincare and hair care products due to their antibacterial and moisturizing properties.
• Timber: The wood of the neem tree is used for construction purposes, as it is
durable and termite-resistant.
Cultural importance:
Neem holds cultural and religious significance in various communities,and its leaves are used in festivals and rituals.
Environmental impacts:
This drought-tolerant species is grown to prevent soil erosion and to help in soil conservation and improvement. Kadu-nimb improves soil fertility and water holding capacity, and can neutralize acidic soils, and so is used for the reclamation of degraded land.
Botanical name:
Azadrachta indica (L.) Juss
Family:
Meliaceae
A large long-lived, spreading tree with horizontal branches and many aerial roots, the young parts softly pubescent; leaves coriaceous, petiolate, ovate to elliptic, entire edges; base rounded sub-cordate or slightly narrowed with 3 to 7 nerves; lateral primary nerves about 5 pairs, prominent, under surface glabrous or pubescent; length of blade from 4 to 8 inches; stipules coriaceous; receptacles sessile in pairs, axillary, globular, red when ripe with 3 broad basal bracts; male flowers numerous only near the mouth of receptacles, stamen 1; gall flowers with short style; fertile female flower with shorter perianth and elongated style.
Etymology:
The term Ficus is the classical Latin name of the fig, a genus already known then, probably derived from Hebrew. The specific epithet benghalensis comes from Bengal, a region of the Indian subcontinent.
Pollinators:
Fig Wasps play an important role in pollination and reproduction of this species.
Symbol:
National tree of India.
A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this tree.
Habitat & Distribution: It is considered native to tropical Asia, from India through Myanmar and Malaysia. It is also cultivated and naturalized in many tropical regions of the world including western Africa, North America, the West Indies, Australia, the Middle East, and many islands in the Pacific ocean.
The Vad tree favours humid places with well distributed rainfall. It is drought-hardy and can withstand 4-6 dry months. It has some tolerance of lower temperatures and survives mild frost. Vad grow best on well-drained sandy loam soil.
Propagation:
Through seeds & branch cuttings.
Uses:
Medicine: The bark of this therapeutically valuable tree is attributed with tonic, astringent, cooling and diuretic properties in Ayurveda. The stem bark is utilized for the treatment of diabetes and various different illnesses. The bark decreased fasting blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin. The fruit is used in folk medicine for respiratory disorders and certain
skin disease.
Timber: The timber is used for making well-curbs, furniture, crates,
door panels and cart-shafts. The props are used for tent poles and umbrella handles.
Fodder: The leaves are used as fodder for cattle and elephants.
Ornamental: Tree is also grown as an ornamental and to provide shade along roads as well as in parks and large gardens.
Traditional: Leaves stitched together to make biodegradable leaf plates.
Cultural importance:
Vad tree is considered sacred by Hindus and is largely grown near temples. In Hinduism, the Vad tree symbolises the Hindu paramount deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Vat Savitri Vrat is observed for three days by married women and commences two days prior to Amavasya or Purnima in the Jyestha month. It is believed that by observing this
fast, married women can bring good luck and fortune to their spouses, similar to how the devout and devoted Savitri saved her husband’s life.
Environmental impacts:
Many species of birds and bats are attracted during the fruiting season.
Botanical name:
Ficus benghalensis L
Family:
Moraceae
It is a small to medium-sized evergreen fast growing tree, grows up to 30 feet tall. The bark is grayish- brown and has a smooth texture. The leaves are opposite, simple, and have a lanceolate shape. The flowers are small and greenish- white, and are arranged in panicles. The fruit is a capsule that contains several seeds.
Etymology:
The name Conocarpus is derived from the Greek words "konos" meaning cone and"karpos" meaning fruit, referring to the shape of the fruit. The specific name "lancifolius" means "lanceolate leaves", referring to the shape of the leaves.
Distribution:
The tree thrives exceptionally well in the hot and dry climate of the city. It is found at altitudes
of up to 1,000 feet.
Propagation:
Tree is propagated from seed & branch cuttings.
Uses:
Medicinal: A gum obtained from the tree is used to treat chest and bowel complaints. Timber: The wood is durable in water, an excellent timber, it can be used for ship building.
The wood provides a good fuel and a high quality charcoal can be made from it.
Note: In humid conditions or during thunderstorms, each pollen grain (∼10–100 μm) may burst into hundreds of smaller particles due to osmotic and electric shocks. These small particles (<2.5 μm) can reach deep into lower airways and cause bronchospasm and bronchial asthma attacks (Bellomo et al., 1992;
Celenza et al., 1996; Murray et al., 1994).
Botanical name:
Conocarpus lancifolius Engl.
Family:
Combretaceae
It is a small to medium-sized tree, growing up to 30 feet tall. The bark is grayish- brown and has a smooth texture. The leaves are opposite, simple, and have an oblong shape. The flowers are small and greenish- white, and are arranged in panicles. The fruit is a drupe that contains a single seed.
Etymology:
The name Terminalia is derived from the Latin word "terminalis", meaning "terminal", referring to the terminal flowers. The specific name "mantaly" is a Malagasy name for the tree.
Distribution:
Tree is native to Madagascar and can be found at low to medium altitudes in various open habitats, including disturbed or secondary forests, grasslands, and along riverbanks. It is commonly found in dry and moist deciduous forests of Madagascar.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds and occasionally through branch and root cuttings. Experimental success has been achieved with tissue culture for propagation.
Uses:
• Tannin or dyestuff: In its native habitat, the bark and wood are used for dyeing.
• Medicine: The bark and wood are used in Madagascar for treating dysentery.
• Ornamental: Widely planted as a street and shade tree; it has been introduced in some regions and is appreciated for its beauty and usefulness.
• The wood of the tree is durable and used for construction, furniture making, and as fuelwood.
Botanical name:
Terminalia mantaly H. Perrier
Family:
Combretaceae
The Champagne Palm is a unique and eye-catching palm tree with a distinctive swollen trunk that resembles a bottle, tapering at the top and base. This swollen trunk serves as a water storage reservoir, allowing the palm to withstand drought conditions. The crown of the palm is relatively small and comprised of arching, pinnate leaves that are green and glossy. The palm produces small, creamy-yellow flowers that are borne in inflorescences. The fruit of the Bottle Palm is a small, rounded drupe.
Etymology:
The genus name "Hyophorbe" is derived from the Greek words "hyo" (meaning pig) and "phorbe" (meaning fodder), possibly referring to the use of palm leaves as fodder for pigs. The species name "indica" indicates its origin from the Indian Ocean region.
Distribution:
While native to Mauritius, the Bottle Palm has been introduced and cultivated in various tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including some parts of India.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds.
Uses:
Ornamental: Primarily grown as ornamental plants for their striking appearance and unique bottle-shaped trunk.
Botanical name:
Hyophorbe indica Gaertn
Family:
Arecaceae (Palm family)
It is a striking and elegant palm tree with a slender, grey trunk that can grow up to10-15 meters in height. The crown of the palm is characterized by its distinctive fronds, which give the tree its common name "Foxtail Palm." The fronds are pinnate (feather-like) and radiate out from the crown, resembling the shape of a fox's tail. The palm produces small, creamy-white flowers that are borne on branched inflorescences. The fruit is a small, ovoid drupe that turns from green to orange-red when ripe.
Etymology:
The genus name "Wodyetia" is named after Wodyeti, an Aboriginal tribe in Australia. The species name "bifurcata" refers to the forked or branched inflorescence of the palm.
Distribution:
It is widely cultivated in various tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including parts of India.
Propagation:
It can be propagated through seeds.
Uses:
Ornamental: Foxtail Palms are primarily grown as ornamental plants for landscaping and horticultural purposes. Their striking appearance and graceful fronds make them popular choices for gardens, parks, and urban landscapes.
Botanical name:
Wodyetia bifurcata A.K. Irvine
Family:
Arecaceae (Palm family)
It is a medium- sized to large deciduous tree that can reach up to 20-25 meters in height. The most striking feature of the tree is its white to pale grey bark, which provides a stark contrast to the surrounding vegetation. The leaves are compound and feathery, with small leaflets. The tree produces small, pale
yellow, fragrant flowers in dense, spherical inflorescences. After flowering, the tree bears long, flat, and brown seed pods.
Etymology:
The genus name "Acacia" is derived from the Greek word "akakia" which was originally applied to the Egyptian Thorn (Acacia arabica). The specific epithet "leucophloea" comes from the Greek words "leucos"meaning "white" and "phloios" meaning "bark," referring to the distinct white bark of the tree.
Habitat & Distribution:
It is distributed throughout various regions in India. It is commonly found in the central, western, and southern parts of the country.
Propagation:
The propagation can be done through seeds. The tree can also be propagated through stem cuttings, though this method might require specific care and treatments.
Uses:
Traditional Medicine: Various parts of the tree, including the bark, leaves, and gum, have been used in traditional medicine systems in India. The bark is believed to possess astringent and antimicrobial properties and has been used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and skin diseases. The gum obtained from the tree has been used as an adhesive and in herbal medicine for various purposes.
Timber: The wood is valued for its strength and durability. It has been used to make furniture,
agricultural implements, and in construction.
Fodder: The leaves and pods of the tree serve as an important source of fodder for livestock.
Cultural importance:
Hivar holds cultural significance in various regions of India. The tree's presence in traditional landscapes, coupled with its medicinal uses, has resulted in it being woven into local cultural practices and rituals.
Additionally, the tree's wood and other plant parts have been utilized in traditional crafts and religious ceremonies, further enhancing its cultural importance.
Botanical name:
Acacia leucophloea (Roxb.) Willd.
Family:
Mimosaceae
It is a majestic and large palm tree, known for its tall, slender trunk that can reach heights of up to 30 meters (about 100 feet). The trunk is smooth and grayish-brown in color, with a characteristic bulge near the middle. The leaves are pinnate, arching, and can grow up to 4-5 meters (13-16feet) long. The leaflets are arranged in a feather-like pattern and have a glossy, dark green color. The crown ofthe tree is dense and forms an impressive canopy. Dead leaves are self-pruning and fall off plant as single whole fronds. Flowers cream-colored, small, unisexual, separate male and female flowers on same plant, clustered in threes with female flower in between 2 much larger male flowers. Borne on large, much-branched panicles (up to 1m across) below crown shaft, emerging from horn-shaped bracts. Fruits round to oval, mature from green to brownish-red or dark purple, single- seeded.
Etymology:
The genus name "Roystonea" is named after General Roy Stone, an American engineer and soldier, while the species name "regia" is derived from the Latin word meaning "royal," referring to the majestic appearance of the palm.
Distribution:
While Royal palm is native to Cuba and other Caribbean islands, it grows well in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
Propagation:
The Cuban Palm can be propagated by seeds.
Uses:
Food: Fruits used as feed for livestock. Palm heart
('cabbage') edible.
Ornamental:
The palm is cultivated in many tropical
and subtropical regions around the world for its ornamental value. In India, it can be found in botanical gardens, parks, and large estates, particularly in regions with a tropical or subtropical climate.
Craft work: The wood from the trunk has been utilized for construction and craftwork. The leaveshave been used for thatching roofs and making baskets.
Cultural importance:
In its native range, the palm has historical significance and has been used for various purposes byindigenous communities.
Botanical name:
Roystonea regia (Kunth) Cook
Family:
Arecaceae (Palmae)
It is a large, deciduous tree that can grow
up to 30 m tall; trunk large, buttressed and angled
towards the base; bark smooth, greyish-brown,
sometimes slightly cracked and with many dots
(lenticels); crown umbrella shaped. Tree has a
spreading canopy and feathery foliage. The leaves are bipinnate, with 10-20 pairs of leaflets. The numerous leaflets are stalkless, rounded at the base and apex, entire thin. Inflorescence borne laterally near the end of the twig, each with loosely arranged. The flowers are large and showy, with five bright red-orange petals and a yellow center. They are produced in clusters at the ends of the branches. Fruit green and flaccid when young, turning to dark brown, hard, woody pods. Pod contains hard, greyish, glossy, oblong and shaped several seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name, Delonix, is derived from the Greek words "delos" (meaning "visible") and "onkos"(meaning "spur"), referring to the large, showy flowers. The specific name, ‘regia’, is from the Latin word ‘regis’ (royal, regal, magnificent). Most of its common names are derived from its large, flame-red flowers.
Propagation:
Propagated from seeds.
Symbol:
Gulmohar is the national flower of
Mauritius.
Uses:
Medicinal: It is used in folk medicine to treat a range of disorders, including constipation, inflammation, pneumonia, and malaria.
An aqueous extract of the flowers is active against roundworm.
Ornamental: It is a popular ornamental tree. It is also used as a shade tree and for windbreaks.
Timber: The wood is hard and strong, and it is used for making furniture, tool handles, and other objects.
Botanical name:
Delonix regia (Boj. ex-Hook.) Raf.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is a slow-growing, evergreen cycad with a stout, woody trunk that can reach a height of up to 6
meters. The trunk is topped with a dense
crown of glossy, dark green, feathery
leaves. Each leaf can grow up to 1-2
meters in length, with numerous leaflets
that are arranged in a circular manner
along the rachis (central leaf stem). The
leaflets have a slightly drooping appearance, giving the plant an attractive and ornamental look.
Etymology:
The genus name "Cycas" is derived from the Greek word "kykas," which means "palm." And "revoluta" refers to the revolute (rolled back) leaf margins of the plant.
Distribution:
It is probably the hardiest cycad, able to tolerate light frosts, with reports of plants withstanding low temperatures. It can be grown from the warm temperate zone through to the tropics. It is widely cultivated in various regions around the world, including India, for ornamental and landscaping purposes. In India, it can be found in gardens, parks, and botanical collections.
Propagation:
Sago Palms may be propagated by seeds or offsets (young shoots attached to the mature plant; also called “pups”.
Uses:
• Ornamental: Sago palm is widely used as an ornamental plant in gardens, landscapes, and indoor settings due to its attractive appearance and low maintenance requirements.
• Traditional Medicine: Some parts of the plant, such as the leaves and stems, have been used in traditional medicine for their supposed therapeutic properties. However, it's essential to note that cycads contain toxic compounds and should not be ingested without proper processing and expert guidance.
Cultural importance:
Sago palm holds cultural importance in various regions, including India. It is often associated with auspiciousness and used in religious and festive decorations. In some Indian traditions, it is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to households that cultivate it.
In some cultures, Cycas revoluta symbolizes longevity, strength, and endurance due to its ability to survive for many years and withstand harsh environmental conditions.
Botanical name:
Roystonea regia (Kunth) Cook
Family:
Arecaceae (Palmae)
It is a deciduous or semi-deciduous small to medium-sized tree, bark surface smooth or with small papery flakes. Leaves opposite, distichous, simple, having entire margin.
Flowers borne from leaf axil or at terminal branches, often large, showy, bell
shaped, petals often 6, pink or mauve-purple, clawed. Stamens many, in several rows; ovary with many ovules in each cell.
Etymology:
The tree was named by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century for his plant lover friend the Swedish merchant Mannus von Lagerstroem, who died in 1759. It specific name ‘speciosa’ indicates the special status of the tree.
Distribution:
It is found at low to medium altitudes in
comparatively open habitats, in disturbed or secondary forests, grasslands, and along rivers. The habitat may vary from well drained to occasionally flood but not peat soil. It is resistant to fire. Common in dry and moist deciduous forests of Maharashtra
Propagation:
Through seed & also by branch and root cuttings have been used occasionally. Tissue culture has been successful on an experimental scale.
Symbol:
The tree has been named as the symbolic “Flower of state of Maharashtra”.
Uses:
• Medicine: A decoction of the bark is used against diarrhoea and abdominal pains. A leaf poultice is used to relief of malarial fever and is applied on cracked feet. A preparation from dried leaves is widely used in to treat diabetes and urinary problems.
• Timber: The medium-weight stem has pale brown, yellow-brown, greyish or reddish to red-brown color in heartwood. The timber is resistant to termites.
• Ornamental: Tree is cultivated for ornamental purposes and as a roadside avenue tree.
Cultural importance:
• In Indian culture, Taman is considered a symbol of beauty and is often associated withfemininity and grace.
• The tree's vibrant and showy flowers are used in floral decorations during religious ceremonies andfestivals.
• Some local communities and tribes may have traditional folklore or stories associated with Taman, adding to its cultural significance.
Botanical name:
Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.
Family:
Lythraceae
A small tree, up to about 7-8m tall. Trunk has brownish grey bark that becomes increasingly fissured with age, and has upright branches. Leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate to elliptical, about 7 x 2cm long, and texture is smooth and leathery. Young leaves have a silky texture, and may be pinkish
or red; the leaves emits a citrus fragrance
when crushed. Distinctive red inflorescences, in the form of “brushes” (hence the common names), in which the “bristles” are actually stamens. The apical
buds continue to grow leafy sections, resulting in the branches to appear to alternate between leafy and floral sections. Fruit is capsule small sessile woody, clustered around the stems. Each capsule contains numerous tiny seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name "Callistemon" comes from the Greek words "kallos" (beauty) and "stemon" (stamen), referring to the beautiful stamens in the flower. The specific epithet citrinus means "related to citrus", in reference to the fragrant leaves.
Distribution:
It is particularly popular in regions with a tropical or subtropical climate. Widely cultivated in India, especially in gardens and parks.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds & air layering.
Uses:
Ornamental: Flowers are used in floral arrangements. Tree used in landscaping and gardens.
Craft: Wood can be used for making tool handles
Botanical name:
Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels
Family:
Myrtaceae
It is a large and imposing deciduous tree. It can reach heights of up to 25 meters (82 feet) or more. The tree has a straight, tall trunk covered in warty light gray bark and a broad canopy of dark green, pinnate leaves that are about 30 to 50 cm long. The leaves, which emerge a bronzy color, are massed at the ends of the branches. The horn shaped velvety olive buds appear in upturned whorls at the branch tips. The flowers are the most striking feature of the tree, resembling large, fiery orange-red tulip- like blooms, each about 7 to 10 cm long. The flowers are held in terminal clusters and have a unique shape, with a curved tube and five flaring lobes. The fruit is a long, slender capsule containing numerous winged papery seeds.
Etymology:
The generic name comes from the Ancient Greek words “spathe” and “oida” , referring to the spathe-like calyx. It was identified by Europeans in 1787 on the Gold Coast of Africa. The specific epithet campanulata is a Latin word meaning bell-shaped, referring to the shape of the corolla.
Distribution:
Grows in dry and humid forests and dry scrubland; but it has been widely cultivated andnaturalized in various tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including India.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds or root suckers.
Uses:
Ornamental: It is commonly planted as an ornamental tree in parks, gardens, and along roadsides in India due to its beautiful flowers and lush foliage.
Medicinal: Some parts of the tree, such
as the bark and leaves, are used in traditional medicine in certain regions. They are believed to possess various medicinal properties and are used to treat ailments like fever, skin infections, and respiratory issues.
Note: The fruit is poisonous. The kernels of the long, boat-shaped wood fruits are boiled to obtain a poisonous liquid used on the tips of arrows of hunters in Africa.
Botanical name:
Spathodea campanulata Beauv.
Family:
Bignoniaceae
It is a medium-sized deciduous tree that can reach up to 15-20 meters in height. Ithas a straight and cylindrical bole with grayish-brown bark. The leaves are large, opposite in growth pattern, elliptical, and glossy green. The tree produces small, creamy white flowers in globose heads on long peduncle, head singly or in cluster of up to 5, each subtended by two bract-like leaves. The flowers are very fragrant, and
remind one of the better knownKadam flowers. The fruits are small, round dry with aggregation of capsules containing tiny seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name "Mitragyna" is derived from the Greek words "mitra," meaning turban, and "gyne," meaning woman, referring to the shape of the stigma. The species name "parvifolia" meaning small leaf.
Distribution:
It is found in various regions of India, primarily in the Western Ghats, particularly in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Also occurs in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Asia.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds. Semi- hardwood cuttings can also be used for propagation.
Uses:
Medicinal: The leaves and various parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine in India. Extracts from the leaves are believed to have potential medicinal properties, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. They are used to treat various ailments and alleviate pain.
Timber: The wood is hard, durable, and resistant to termites, making it suitable for various construction purposes, such as building houses, making furniture, and crafting tools.
Cultural importance:
In some indigenous communities of India, Kalam tree holds cultural significance. It may have ritualistic uses or be associated with traditional beliefs and practices.
Note: Some authors believe that this is the 'true Kadam' which is associated with Lord Krishna inVrindavana, rather than the well-known tree Neolamarckia cadamba.
Botanical name:
Mitragyna parvifolia (Roxb.) Korth.
Family:
Rubiaceae
It is a large, deciduous tree that can reach up to 30 meters in height. It has a spreading crown with numerous aerial roots that develop from its branches and descend to the ground, forming secondary trunks. The bark is smooth and grayish. The leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptical in shape, and haveserrated margins. They are dark green and leathery with prominent veins. The inflorescences are cavities with fleshy walls enclosing the flowers, called syconia, accessible to the pollinating insect from a small apical opening (ostiole) covered by 5-6 bracts, that when ripe form a false fruit. The syconia are arranged numerous in thick clusters directly from the trunk or from the main branches having no leaves (cauliflory), globose- depressed to pyriform, initially green, then reddish or orange when ripe, often with darker stripes; the real fruits are tiny and contain only one seed.
Etymology:
The genus name "Ficus" is derived from the Latin word for "fig," and "racemosa" refers to the raceme-like arrangement of its fruits.
Distribution:
It is widely distributed across India. It is commonly
found in various parts of the country, including the plains and lower hills.
Propagation:
Seeds or stem cuttings
Uses:
Ecological Importance: The fruits of Umber serve as an essential food source for various birds and animals, contributing to the biodiversity of the regions where it grows.
Medicinal Uses: Different parts of the Cluster fig tree, such as the bark, leaves, and fruits, have been used in traditional medicine systems in India for various purposes. The bark is believed to have astringent properties and is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. The leaves are used as a poultice for treating wounds, while the latex from the fruit is applied topically to alleviate pain and inflammation.
Cultural importance:
In Indian culture, the plant holds religious significance, and it is often associated with sacred sites and revered as a symbol of longevity and fertility.
Botanical name:
Ficus racemosa L.
Family:
Moraceae
A moderate-sized tree aSaining a height of 30 to 50 W. The trunk is straight, up to 30 cm in diameter, with a rounded and dense crown. The bark is gray to light brown, becoming fissured with age. Leaves compound, paripinnate, 6 to 12 in. long, leaflets 12 to 18 pairs, oblong in shape, somewhat leathery, 1.25 to 2.25 in. by 0.5 to 1 in. wide, Lp with a small mucro (point), base rounded. The inflorescence is upright, borne on peduncles at the apex of the branches. It is a panicle of bright yellow pentamerous flowers. The pods are numerous, long, narrow, flat, dark brown, dehiscent and compressed between seeds. The seeds are numerous (20-30), bean- shaped, shiny, dark brown, with distinct areole.
Etymology:
The genus name derives from the Arabic sanā, describing plants whose leaves and pods have catharLc and laxaLve properLes; siamea means pertaining to Siam.
Distribution:
It is a full sunlight species; does beSer on deep, well-drained ferLle soils with pH 5.5-7.5, but can grow on degraded lateriLc soils provided drainage is not impeded. The species is intolerant of saline soils. Frequently culLvated in India as a roadside tree.
Propagation:
Propagated by seed.
Uses:
Ornamental: Extensively planted as an avenue tree
Edible: The flowers are eaten in curry.
Timber: The wood is used in Burma for mallets, shelves and walking-sLcks because of its hardness and durability.
Environmental impact:
Kashid has higher growth rate, therefore was recommended for afforestaLon.
Note: Due to its fast growth and prolific seed producLon, Kashid is considered to be invasive in Australia (especially the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland), Mexico, the Caribbean (Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico), the Pacific (Fiji and French Polynesia) and Africa, and may pose a significant risk of invasion in other countries where it is already present and culLvated.
Botanical name:
Senna siamea (Lam.) Irwin & Barneby [Cassia siamea Lamk.]
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
A large evergreen tree with a dense crown of dark green, shining foliage, 40 to 60 ft. high. Leaves simple, elliptic, tip shortly accumulate, base acute or rounded, petioles 0.5 to 1 in. long. The flowers are very small, creamy-white, star-shaped and borne in small clusters on the leaf axils. They are bisexual, with 8 white petals, each with two side lobes, joined into a star-like corolla with 24 points and they fall off as a ring. There are 8 fertile stamens, alternating with 8 staminodes. The flowers open at twilight and gradually become very fragrant through the night, until the next morning when they are shed. The fruits are oval, pointed and similar in size to small olives (2-3cm long). They turn from green to orange-red when ripe. The seeds are dark brown or black, and are surrounded by edible yellow flesh.
Etymology:
Mimusops is derived from Greek meaning ape-like, somewhat imaginary resemblance of the flower with a monkey; Specific epithet ‘elengi’ is derived from the Tamil name.
Distribution:
Semi-evergreen and evergreen forests. he tree is frequently cultivated in gardens chiefly for its fragrant flowers and ornamental foliate. It is also grown as an avenue or shade tree throughout the
greater part of India.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds.
Uses:
• Edible: The fruit when ripe is eaten. It contains a small quantity of sweet pulp. A preserve is also prepared from the fruit.
• Garlands: The fragrant flowers are used in making garlands.
• Gum: The tree yields the pogoda gum of Madras.
• Dye: The bark is used either by itself or in combination with other barks as a dye.
• Oil: The flowers contain a volatile oil from which sweet-scented water is distilled. Oil is
also obtained from the seeds. The oil from the seeds is used for cooking.
• Timber: The wood is good, and is used in building and for carts and cabinet work.
Cultural importance:
Flowers are offered in temples and shrines throughout the country. Appears in Indian mythology as Vakula - said to put forth blossoms when sprinkled with nectar from the mouth of women.
Botanical name:
Mimusops elengi L.
Family:
Sapotaceae
It is a medium to large tree attaining a height of 28-37 m. Tree has a wide crown, which may be conical or irregular with open foliage. The bark is dark grey and rough with vertical fissures. Leaves compound, digitately arranged, leaflets 3 to 6 in. by 1 to 2 in., 3 to 5 in number, the terminal the largest, elliptic-oblong, usually unequal sided, tip blunt or rounded, base unequal, rounded or slightly cordate. Flowers lilac or pink, hermaphrodite, 5-7 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, bell- or funnel-shaped tubular corolla. Fruit a cylindrical linear capsule, 22-38 cm long, narrow at each end, surface rough, dehiscent, light green when young and dark green when mature. One fruit contains 240-300 winged seeds.
Etymology:
Tabebuia is derived from the Brazilian name of the tree. Specific epithet ‘rosea’ in allusion to the rose coloring of the flowers.
Distribution:
The tree grows in a wide range of habitats. It tends to dominate humid forest lowlands, gallery forest and seasonally flooded regions. This species also occurs in dry tropical forest and mountain regions, it is also found on abandoned farmland. Introduced in many countries as an ornamental garden species including India.
Propagation:
Propagated through seed.
Uses:
• Medicinal: The decoction prepared with the flowers, leaves and roots is used to reduce fever and pain, inflammation caused due to tonsils and other disorders.
• The bark has anti-oxidant properties.
• Shade-providing tree: The tree is also used to provide shade in coffee and cocoa plantations.. Timber: The stem is used for construction and furniture.
Botanical name:
Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) Bertero ex DC.
Family:
Bignoniaceae
A wide-canopied tree with a large symmetrical umbrella-shaped crown. It usually reaches a height of 15–25 m and a diameter of 30 m. Its branches have velvety and hairy bark. A rain tree leaf is pinnate made of 6–16 leaflets, each leaflet is shaped like a diamond 2–4 centimetres long and 1–2 centimetres wide with a dull top surface and finely hairy beneath.
The tree sheds its leaves for a while during dry periods. Its crown is big and can provide shade, but allows rain to fall through into the ground beneath it. The leaves fold in rainy. The tree has pinkish flowers with white and redstamens, set onheadswith around 12–25 flowers per head. These heads may number in the thousands, covering the whole tree. The seed pods of the tree are curved and leathery; they contain sticky, edible flesh covering the flat, oval seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name "Samanea" is derived from a name used in Brazil for some leguminous trees. It was first proposed by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century when he classified the tree. The species name "saman" is of Caribbean origin, specifically from the Taino people who inhabited parts of the Caribbean islands before the arrival of Europeans. The Taino people called this tree "saman," and the Spanish explorers recorded this name, which was later adopted as the specific epithet in the scientific name of the tree.
Distribution:
A broad distribution across tropical and subtropical regions. Its native range includes various countries in Central and South America. Planted in gardens and parks in India for its majestic look.
Propagation:
Tree can be propagated through several methods, including seeds, cuttings, and grafting.
Uses:
• Shade and Ornamental Tree: One of the primary uses of Rain tree is as a shade tree and ornamental plant. Its large, umbrella-like canopy provides excellent shade, making it a popular choice for parks, gardens, and along streets in tropical regions.
• Timber: The wood is used in some regions for light construction, furniture, and other woodworking projects. While the wood is not as durable as some other tropical hardwoods, it can still be utilized for various purposes.
• Forage and Fodder: In some areas, the leaves and pods of the monkeypod tree are used as fodder for livestock. They are rich in protein and nutrients, making them valuable as supplementary feed.
• Erosion Control: The extensive root system helps stabilize soil, making it useful for controlling erosion in areas with unstable or erodible soils.
• Nitrogen Fixation: Like other leguminous trees, rain tree has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil with the help of symbiotic bacteria in its root nodules. This enhances soil fertility and benefits neighboring plants.
• Traditional Medicine: In some of native traditional medicine systems, various parts of the monkeypod tree, such as the bark and leaves, are used to treat ailments and health conditions.
• Agroforestry: Rain trees are often incorporated into agroforestry systems, where they provide shade for other crops and can be pruned to supply valuable mulch and organic matter.
• Environmental and Landscape Use: Due to its large size and rapid growth, it is also planted for reforestation and landscaping to restore degraded areas and improve the environment.
Cultural importance:
In areas where the Rain tree is native, indigenous cultures often have traditional knowledge and folklore associated with the tree. It may hold spiritual or symbolic value, and stories or myths may be linked to its presence.
Botanical name:
Samanea saman (Jacq.) Merrill. [Albizia saman (Jacq.) Merrill.]
Family:
Mimosaceae
This solitary palm has a white/yellow crown shaft and a yellow trunk, the leaves also often have a yellowish tinge. Stem erect, unbranched palm reaching heights of 12-30 m, depending upon the environmental conditions. The stem, marked with scars of fallen leaves in a regular annulated form, becomes visible only when the palm is about 3 years old. Girth depends on genetic variation and soil conditions. Root system adventitious, typical of monocots. The adult palm has 7-12 open leaves, each with a sheath, a rachis and leaflets. The leaf stalk extends as the midrib until the end of the leaf and ends as leaflets. Male flowers very numerous, sessile, without bracts; calyx 1-leaved, small, 3-cornered, 3-parted; petals 3, oblong, rigid striated; stamens 6, anthers sagittate. Female flowers solitary or 2 or 3 at or near the base of each ramification of the spadix, sessile, without bracts; sepals permanent; staminodes 6, connate, styles scarcely any; stigmas 3, short, triangular. Fruit a monolocular, one-seeded berry, 3.8-5 cm long, smooth orange or scarlet
when ripe, with a fibrous outer layer.
Etymology:
The genus name "Areca" is derived from the Malayalam word "adakka," which refers to the betel nut palm. The species name "catechu" is of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word "kath" or "katha," which refers to the catechu or cutch extract derived from the heartwood of the tree.
Distribution:
Palm prefers a partially shaded position but it will also grow well in full sun. Warm sub-tropics to tropics.
Propagation:
Through seeds.
Uses:
Fibre: The husk fibres are predominantly composed of cellulose with varying proportions of hemi-cellulose, lignin, pectin and protopectin. Based on various tests, it has been proposed that the husk fibre could be used in making such items as thick boards, fluffy cushions and non- woven fabrics. Trial experiments have shown that satisfactory yield and quality of brown wrapping paper could be prepared from blends of areca-nut and bamboo or banana pseudostem pulp.
• Timber: Areca nut stem forms a useful building material in the villages, and it is widely used throughout southeast Asia for a variety of construction purposes. The timber can also be used in making a variety of utility articles such as rulers, shelves and waste paper baskets.
• Medicine: Areca nut is used against anaemia, leucoderma, leprosy, obesity and worms. In combination with other ingredients, it is also a purgative and an ointment for nasal ulcers. Kernels of green and mature fruits are chewed as an astringent and stimulant, often with the leaves or fruit of betel pepper (Piper betel) and lime.
Botanical name:
Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.
Family:
Ebenaceae
Dioecious trees, grows up to 15 m high, bark is pelican in color, exfoliating in rectangular scales. bark spongy; branches ferruginous tomentose. The primary root is long, thick and fleshy at first, afterwards woody, greyish, often swollen in upper part near ground level. The roots form vertical loops in sucker-generated plants. Leaves simple, alternate, opposite or subopposite, estipulate; lamina elliptic, elliptic-ovate, ovate, obovate-elliptic, oblong, obovate-oblong or orbicular in shape, base round or cuneate, apex obtuse, round or emarginate, margin entire, glabrous above and pubescent beneath, coriaceous; lateral nerves 8-12 pairs, pinnate, prominent, intercostae reticulate. Flowers unisexual; male flowers: in axillary, 3-flowered tomentose cymes; bracts ferrugineously downy; calyx hairy, ovate-triangular; corolla tube urceolate, ferruginous out-side, glabrous within; stamens 12-16-[18]; filaments glabrous; connectives fulvous pilose on the back. Female flowers: subsessile, borne in axillary, solitary; bracts 3-4, scale-like, cauducous; calyx campanulate, hairy; corolla tube cylindric-urceolate, hairy outside, glabrous within; staminodes 6-9 or absent; ovary superior, globose. Fruit a berry, olive green, ovate- globose, smooth, seated on accrescent flat calyx with the lobes spreading with reflexed margins; pulp yellow, soft and sweet. Seeds 5, compressed, oblong, shiny, often banded.
Etymology:
The generic name is derived from the Greek ‘dios’ (divine), and ‘pyros’ (fruit), referring to the excellent fruit of the genus. The specific name is Greek and means ‘dark wood’.
Distribution:
A plant of the lowland tropics, dry deciduous forests; where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 35°c, but can tolerate 8 to 48°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1200mm.
Propagation:
Through seeds and root suckers.
Uses:
• Food: The fruits and powdered seeds are sold in local markets and eaten.
• Fodder: A tolerance to pruning makes
Tendu a good fodder species. The leaves are reported to contain 7.12% crude protein,
and 25.28% crude fibre.
• Fuel: Tendu is reported to be good fuelwood; calorific value of sapwood is 4957
kcal/kg and of heartwood, 5030 kcal/kg.
• Timber: Wood is hard, whitish-pink, tough, fairly durable and used for building, shoulder poles, mine props and shafts of carriages. The ebony is very heavy and valued for carving and other ornamental works.
• Medicine: The seeds can be intoxicating; they have been prescribed in India as a cure for mental disorders, nervous breakdowns and palpitations of the heart. The fruits have a cooling and an astringent effect. Dried flowers are reportedly useful in urinary, skin and blood diseases. The bark is astringent; its decoction is used in diarrhoea.
Interesting facts: Leaves used to wrap tobacco dust to make beedis, hence called ‘Beedi mara’ locally. In the past, black trunk was used to make black keys of the piano.
Botanical name:
Diospyros melanoxylon Roxb.
Family:
Ebenaceae
A large, glabrous, evergreen tree. The bark of
the trunk is thornless and greenish-gray with a blaze yellow reflection, with a smooth texture. It exudes a milky white latex exudate profusely. Branches and branchlets are round in shape with a hairless or finely velvet-hairy surface covered with annular scars and a pale yellow tinge. Leaves are alternate, ovate, apiculate-acuminate coriaceous, upper surface dotted with minute raised spots, base narrowed, 3-nerved, petiole with a gland at the apex on
the underside. Inflorescence is Hypanthodium globose, sessile, axillary, pubescent, androgynous, basal bracts 3, broadly ovate. Perianth of 3, ovate tepals. Staminate florets sessile, monandrous, filament clavate, larger than the anther. Pistillate florets, stigma cylindric. The fruits are small stalkless figs 1-1.5 cm in diameter, light green initially, ripening to red.
Etymology:
This genus name, "Ficus," originates from the Latin word for "fig." The genus Ficus includes a wide variety of fig trees, shrubs, and vines. The specific epithet "amplissima" is derived from the Latin word "amplissimus," which means "very large" or "most spacious." This likely refers to the size of the plant or its parts.
Distribution:
It is native to Central and southern Peninsular India, Sri Lanka and Maldives, having a significant distribution throughout Western Ghats of India. Found in dry evergreen to evergreen Forests, also cultivated.
Propagation:
Sowing the fig seeds in moist soil or
burying stem cuttings.
Uses:
• Shade & Ornamental: The tree is used to provide shade in coffee plantations and
planted as an ornamental species in gardens and parks.
• Fibre: Strong fibres are obtained from the bark and is used for making ropes.
• Timber: Wood is very hard and is used by the farmers to make tools.
• Medicinal: Pimpri being used in folklore medicine, leaves juice is applied externally on
old chronic wounds and the latex is applied on the wound.
Cultural importance:
Ficus trees are revered in various cultures and religions around the world. They can hold symbolic meanings related to longevity, fertility, protection, and spiritual significance.
Ecological importance:
Most frugivorous avian and chiropteran species depend on the fleshy fig fruits as they provide them with a balanced diet. A diversified group of animal ranging from aves (domestic pigeons, parrots, koel and many more) to an advanced class of mammals (frugivorous bats, insectivorous bats, squirrels, mongoose and many more) depend on the substantial numbers of Ficus species population for nourishment supply and habitation (nesting, settling, roosting, perching and many more).
Botanical name:
Ficus amplissima Sm.
Family:
Moraceae
It is predominantly a single-stemmed deciduous tree with a dome shaped crown of lush green foliage, which on wet sites are not shed. The trees reach a height of 20-40 m with a girth of 1.5-2m. The bark is gray, thin with irregular short cracks, exfoliating in fibrous longitudinal flakes. Leaves are alternate,
odd-pinnate with 5-7 unequal sized leaflets originating from the same rachis. Leaflets are broadly obtuse, dark green above and pale below. Flowers are white in axillary panicles, 0.5-1 cm long. The brown pods are oblong- lanceolate and pointed at both ends. They contain 1-4 smooth brown seeds and do not open at maturity.
Etymology:
Genus ‘Dalbergia’ is named after 2 brothers - Carl Gustav Dalberg (1753 - 1775), a Swedish planter and botanical collector for Linnaeus, and Nils E.Dalberg, a Swedish botanist and physician. Specific epithet ‘lanceolaria’ means lance-like and subspecies ‘paniculata’ means 'with branched-racemose or cymose inflorescences', 'tufted', 'paniculate', or 'with
panicles'.
Distribution:
Usually found in mixed deciduous forest, evergreen and open forest, along streams. Tree is reported to be scattered in the dry deciduous forests throughout the Indian peninsula. Optimum growing conditions for the species are reported to be in the Bombay region.
Propagation:
Through seeds.
Uses:
Apiculture: Like other member of the genus Dalbergia, its honey is dark amber and strong flavoured.
Timber: The wood is used for tool-handles, boats, rafters, scantlings, packaging, and other general purposes.
Medicine: Medicines are made from the tannins in the bark, for diarrhoea, worms, indigestion, and leprosy.
Shade or shelter: The species is planted as a shade tree in coffee plantations and on roadsides.
Environmental impact:
Soil improver: Phanshi is known to be a nitrogen fixing tree. The leaf litter decomposes slowly releasing nutrients gradually and it is used as a mulch.
Botanical name:
Dalbergia lanceolaria L.f. ssp. paniculata (Roxb.) Thoth
Family:
Fabaceae
The plant is a large deciduous tree, up to 25 m high. Bark is 6–8 mm thick, whitish-grey, smooth with pubescent branchlets. Leaves are simple, alternate, stipulate, ovate or elliptic-ovate, and acuminate in shape. The bark when cut and leaves when crushed emit an unpleasant odor. Flowers are small, greenish-purple, and polygamous and found in short racemes or axillary fascicles. In male flowers, there are 8 stamens and in bisexual flowers 5 stamens are present. Ovary is superior, unilocular, compressed, and stalked. Style is very short (2.5–4 mm long) with bifid stigma. Fruits are one seeded samara, light brown, obliquely elliptic or orbicular, winged and stalked, indehiscent, and 2.5–3.5 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Seeds are small, whitish, and kidney shape.
Etymology:
The genus name Holoptelea is derived from the two Greek word i.e. Holos means "whole, entire, complete," and Ptelea for an elm tree, in reference to the flattened winged fruit that resembles that of elms. The specific epithet integrifolia is from the Latin meaning "entire leaves", referring to the leaflet margins.
Distribution:
Found in deciduous forests and river banks from foothills to 1100m. Common in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Indo-China.
Propagation:
Through seeds
Uses:
Medicinal: The bark of Indian Elm is used in
rheumatism. Seed and paste of stem bark is used in treating ringworm. Bark and leaves are used for treating oedema, diabetes, leprosy and other skin diseases, intestinal disorders, piles and sprue.
Fuel: Wood is moderately hard, and used for fuel.
Botanical name:
Holoptelea integrifolia (Roxb.) Planch
Family:
Ulmaceae
A large deciduous tree to 50 m tall and a diameter of 3 m with a rounded crown. The frequently buttressed bole at the base is branchless up to 20 m. The bark is bluish or ashy-grey covered with numerous fine longitudinal cracks, the inner bark yellowish. Leaves large, glabrous, alternate, broadly elliptic to obovate-elliptical, base rounded to cuneate, rufous-sericeous but soon glabrescent, with 6-9 pairs of secondary veins. Secondary and tertiary venation prominent on both surfaces, clustered towards the ends of branchlets. Petiole 2.5-9 cm long. Young leaves
copper-red, soon becoming parrot green, then dark green. Flowers solitary, small, greenish white, simple, axillary spikes; calyx tube densely sericeous or tomentulose; flowers appear along with new leaves and have a strong honey-like smell. Fruit sub-globular to broadly ellipsoid, densely velutinous or sericeous, light- yellow, obscurely 5-angled and minutely brown tomentosa.
Etymology:
The generic name ‘Terminalia’ comes from Latin word ‘terminus’ or ‘terminalis’ (ending), and refers to the habit of the leaves being crowded or borne on the tips of the shoots. The species name "bellirica" is derived from the Latin word "bellericus" or "belericus," which was used to refer to a tree bearing the Bahera fruit.
Distribution:
Tree is found in Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains. Including India, tree is distributed in wide range of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Propagation:
Through seeds, air layering and vegetative cuttings.
Uses:
• Food: The kernels of the fruit can be eaten by indigenous people.
• Fuel: The tree yields a good-quality firewood and charcoal with calorific value of
sapwood being 5000 kcal/kg.
• Fodder. The leaves are highly valued and extensively used as fodder. The farmers lop
side branches, often sparing the main limbs to ensure good growth and future supplies of fodder. The chemical composition improves with the stage of maturity in leaves, which are on the whole considered to be nutritious, palatable and digestible. Leaves contain 9-14% crude proteins and can be used to rear tussar silkworms (Antherea mylitta).
• Dyestuff or tannins: The fruit produces tannins and dyes used for leather tanning, dyeing of clothes, matting and inks.
• Timber: The wood is whitish, rather soft, with a density of 675-900 kg/m3 at 12% moisture content; sapwood and heartwood are not distinct with straight grains. The wood is steeped in water to make it more durable then used for making boxes, furniture and construction.
• Medicine: Tree’s fruit rind is one of ingredient of ayurvedic drug ‘Triphala’. The fruit rind (pericarp) is astringent, laxative, anthelmintic, pungent, germicidal and antipyretic. It is applied in a diverse range of conditions including cough, tuberculosis, eye diseases, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, inflammation of the small intestine, biliousness, flatulence, liver disease, leprosy and cleanse the blood. Fruit extracts have anti-bacterial activity against Micrococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli.
• Cosmetic: The kernel produces a non-edible oil used in toilet soap and is good for hair.
Cultural importance:
The tree is considered sacred and is never cut down because of the belief that a deity Shaneeshwara resides in it. In many cultures of India, Bahera holds spiritual or ritual significance. It might be used in religious ceremonies, rituals, or festivals due to its traditional importance. Trees often hold symbolic meanings in cultures, representing qualities like strength, endurance, and resilience.
Botanical name:
Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb.
Family:
Combretaceae
A medium-sized evergreen tree or briefly deciduous with a short trunk, spreading branches, and rounded shady canopy, can grow 15-25 m tall. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate with long slender leafstalk. Leaflets glabrous, dark green in colour, ovate or elliptic oblong, acute at base with entire margin. Flowers fascicled on axillary racemose axes, pinkish-white, calyx reddish- brown. Pod long, flat, seeds 1-2, indehiscent. Inflorescence in raceme, axillary, in clusters, slender, drooping. Flowers 2-4 together, short-stalked; corolla white to pink, purple inside, brownish veined outside, with basal auricles, often with green central blotch and thin silky hairs on back; wings oblong, oblique, slightly adherent to obtuse keel.
Etymology:
Pongamia is derived from the Tamil name for the tree ponga or pongam. The specific name "pinnata" is derived from the Latin word "pinnatus," which means "feathered," "winged," or "having pinnae."
Distribution:
Native to humid and sub-tropic region, common along waterways or seashores.
It is tolerant of saline conditions and alkalinity, and occurs along the edges of mangrove forest and along tidal streams and rivers. It is a shade bearer and can grow under the shade of other trees. (Mostly found on river bed) All over Maharashtra. Native range Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand.
Propagation:
It can be propagated both by seed as well
as vegetative means. The Karanj is easily raised from
seed. The seeds may be first sown in pots and
transferred to the ground at the commencement of the monsoon. It is a very hardy tree and can adapt itself to varying conditions.
Uses:
• Ornamental: Karanj is often planted in homesteads as an ornamental tree and in avenue plantings, roadsides, and stream and canal banks. However the large amounts of flowers, leaves and pods that it regularly sheds make it not very suitable for this purpose.
• Erosion control: A preferred species for controlled soil erosion and binding sand dunes because of its extensive network of lateral roots.
• Apiculture: Karanj flowers are considered a good source of pollen for
honeybees in India and they yield adequate nectar. The seed oil was
formerly indispensable as an illuminant in lamps, but has been largely
replaced by kerosene.
• Fiber: The bark fiber is made into string, twine or rope, and
the wood provides paper pulp.
• Wood: The wood is used for cabinet making, cartwheels,
posts, agricultural implements, tool handles and combs.
• Tannin or dyestuff: Roots yield a natural pigment, pinnatin, which was synthesized in 1967. The wood ash is employed in dyeing. Oil from the seeds is used for leather dressing in tanning industries.
• Medicinal: Seeds Yield an oil to be used in cutaneous disease like, scabies, herpes and leucoderma. Juice of leaves is to be used to treat flatulence, diarrhea and cough. Juice of the roots is supposed to be used for cleansing foul ulcers and fistulous sores, for cleaning teeth and strengthening the gum.
• Manure: Seeds cakes are used as manure.
• Oil: The seeds yield thick reddish oil used for burning and for skin diseases.
Cultural importance:
In some cultures, Karanj have religious or ritual significance. Trees often hold symbolic meanings and might be associated with local beliefs or practices.
Note: The flowers and new leaves generally appear together. The leaf shedding is very irregular in the species depending possibly on situation, age, or even in the individual. When the trees are in flower the ground below them is usually carpeted with blooms. The fruit remains on the trees till the next lot of new leaves appear.
Botanical name:
Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre.
Family:
Fabaceae
It is a large evergreen tree up to 30 m tall, bole usually 1-2 m, up to 2 m diameter; crown dense, widely spreading, rounded; bark rough, fissured, greyish-brown. Leaves alternate, compound, with 10-18 pairs of opposite leaflets; leaflets narrowly oblong, petiole and rachis finely haired, midrib and net veining more or less conspicuous on both surfaces. Flowers attractive pale yellow or pinkish, in small, lax spikes about 2.5 cm in width. Flower buds completely enclosed by 2 bracteoles, which fall very early; sepals 4, petals 5, the upper 3 well developed, the lower 2 minute. Fruit a pod, indehiscent, sub-cylindrical, straight or curved, velvety, rusty-brown; the shell of the pod is brittle and the seeds are
embedded in a sticky edible pulp. Seeds 3-10, approximately 1.6 cm long, irregularly shaped, testa hard, shiny and smooth.
Etymology:
As the dark brown pulp made from the fruit resembles dried dates, the Arabs called it ‘tamar-ul-Hind’, meaning ‘date of India’, and this inspired Linnaeus when he named the tree in the 18th century. Tamarindus is a monospecific genus.
Distribution:
A commonly planted tree in the homesteads and roadsides. Native of tropical Africa, widely distributed in the Tropics; introduced in India in 15th Century.
Propagation:
Through seeds and stem cuttings.
Uses:
• Food: The fruit pulp, mixed with a little salt, is a favourite ingredient of the curries and chutneys popular throughout India. The fruit is eaten raw or dried. Jams and jellies are also prepared along with pickles. Tender leaves are eaten as vegetables to make special tangy curries.
• Fuel: Provides good firewood with calorific value of 4 850 kcal/kg, it also produces an excellent charcoal.
• Timber: Sapwood is light yellow, heartwood is dark purplish brown; very hard, durable and strong and takes a fine polish. It is used for general carpentry, sugar mills, wheels, hubs, wooden utensils, agricultural tools, mortars, boat planks, toys, panels and furniture. In North America, tamarind wood has been traded under the name of ‘madeira mahogany’.
• Lipids: An amber colored seed oil - which resembles linseed oil - is suitable for making paints and varnishes and for burning in lamps.
• Medicine: The bark is astringent and tonic and its ash may be given internally as a digestive. Leaf extracts exhibit anti-oxidant activity in the liver, and are a common ingredient in cardiac and blood sugar reducing medicines. Powdered seeds may be
given to cure dysentery and diarrhea.
• Tannin or dyestuff: Both leaves and bark are rich in tannin. The bark tannins can be used in ink or for fixing dyes. Leaves yield a red dye, which is used to give a yellow tint to clothe previously dyed with indigo. Ashes from the wood are used in removing hair from animal hides.
Botanical name:
Tamarindus indica L.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is a deciduous tree usually reaching a height of 15 (-24) m, although it may attain 50 m and a diameter of 50 (-100) cm. Bark smooth, grey; crown dense, spreading. Leaves large, 30-60 cm long, with 8-10 pairs of pinnae each bearing 10- 20 pairs of oblong leaflets 0.8-2.5 cm long with oblique bases. Flowers orange-yellow, each about 2.5 cm in diameter, fragrant, particularly at night; inflorescence brown-tomentose, panicles terminal with rust-coloured buds. Fruits 1-4 seeded pods, flat, thin, winged, 5-10 cm long, dark red when ripe, then turning black.
Etymology:
The genus name is derived from a Greek word ‘peltophoros’ which means shield- bearer. The specific epithet 'pterocarpum' alludes to its winged seed.
Distribution:
Spread from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malesia to northern Australia. Native habitat found in
terrestrial (Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Mangrove
Forest, Sandy Beach). Cultivated in garden and
parks as an ornamental species in Tropical and Sub-Tropical regions.
Propagation:
Through seeds and grafting.
Uses:
• Fodder: It is suitable for use as a fodder.
• Apiculture: In India, it is a source of pollen for the dammer bee (Trigona iridipennis).
• Timber: The sapwood is greyish-white, turning grey-brown on aging. The wood is
used locally for light construction purposes, cabinet making, sawn or hewn building
timbers, woodware, woodcarving and marquetry.
• Tannin or dyestuff: The bark has been an important component of the dark or black
'soga' dye in Java, used for batik work. It is also used for tanning leather, and preserving and dyeing fishing nets. In Indonesia, the bark is used for fermenting palm wine.
• Medicine: In traditional medicine it is used as an astringent to cure or relieve intestinal disorders after pain at childbirth, sprains, bruises and swelling or as a lotion for eye troubles, muscular pains and sores. It is also used for gargles and tooth powders.
• Ornamental: Yellow flame is a very beautiful and elegant ornamental tree. The beautiful golden-yellow flowers may be used as cut flowers.
Botanical name:
Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) Backer ex Heyne
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It’s a tall tree (usually 15-20 m. high but can reach 30-40 m.) with a well- developed trunk (may be 3 m. in circumference); it grows quickly until the age of 20 and can live to be 500. Its leaves are evergreen, dark green, either acicular (in young stages) or very small, scale-like and overlapping in four ranks. The female cones are globular (2-4 cm.), shiny, with 6-12 woody, peltate, unequal scales, opposed crosswise on a short axis. The ovuliferous scales bear many ovules. The seeds are jagged, shining brown and narrowly winged.
Etymology:
The genus name "Cupressus" comes from the Latin word "cupressus," which itself has roots in ancient Greek. The Greek word "kypeiros," which means "strict" or "austere." This name was given to the tree due to its tall and straight growth habit. The species name "sempervirens" also comes from Latin and means "evergreen." It is a combination of two Latin words: "semper," meaning "always" or "ever," and "virens," meaning "green" or "flourishing." This name highlights the tree's characteristic of retaining its green foliage throughout the year, even in winter.
Distribution:
ts natural distribution includes Mediterranean region and Western Asia. It can tolerant drought, air currents, wind dust, sleet and atmospheric gases. Its root
system is well developed. It succeeds on acid and alkaline soils".
Propagation:
Through seeds & cuttings.
Uses:
• Ornamental and Landscaping: The elegant, slender form makes it a popular choice for ornamental planting in gardens, parks, and landscapes. It can be used as a standalone specimen, in rows to create visual barriers or windbreaks, or pruned into various decorative shapes.
• Woodworking: The wood is durable, lightweight, and fragrant, making it suitable for various woodworking applications. It has been used to craft furniture, cabinetry, decorative panels, and musical instruments.
• Aromatherapy and Essential Oils: The essential oil extracted from the foliage of the tree has a pleasant aroma and has been used in aromatherapy for its supposed calming and soothing properties.
• Perfumery: The essential oil derived is sometimes used in perfumery to create fragrances with woody and earthy notes.
• Traditional Medicine: In some traditional medicine systems, extracts or preparations from different parts of the tree have been used for their potential health benefits, although scientific evidence supporting these uses is limited.
• Erosion Control: The deep root system of the Mediterranean cypress helps stabilize soil and prevent erosion, making it useful for planting in areas prone to erosion.
• Wildlife Habitat: The tree's dense foliage provides habitat and shelter for various bird species and other wildlife.
• Topiary and Formal Gardens: Due to its columnar growth habit, the Mediterranean cypress is well-suited for creating formal hedges and topiary designs in garden settings.
• Firewood and Timber: While not as commonly used for timber as some other tree species, the wood of Cupressus sempervirens can be used as firewood or for smaller timber applications.
Cultural importance:
• Mediterranean cypress trees have been culturally significant for centuries. They are often associated with symbols of longevity, death, and mourning in various cultures. They are commonly seen in Mediterranean landscapes, cemeteries, and historical sites.
Botanical name:
Cupressus sempervirens L.
Family:
Cupressaceae
It is a tree grows up to 5-20 m high with a dense spheric crown, stems and branches usually dark to black coloured, fissured bark, grey-pinkish slash, exuding a reddish low quality gum. The tree has thin, straight, light, grey spines in axillary pairs, usually in 3 to 12 pairs, 5 to 7.5 cm long in young trees, mature trees commonly without thorns. Leaves oUen with 1-2 peColar glands and others between all or only the
topmost of the 2-11 pairs of pinnae; leaflets 7-25 pairs, glabrous to pubescent. Inflorescence borne in axillary, globulous heads. Flowers bright golden-yellow color, involucel from near the base to half way up the peduncle. Fruit indehiscent, straight or curved, glabrous to velvety, 4- 22 cm long. Seed blackish-brown, smooth, sub-circular, compressed.
Etymology:
Generic name ‘Vachellia’ is aUer Rev. John Harvey Vachell (1798-1839), chaplain to the BriCsh East India Company in Macao from 1825-1836 and a plant collector in China. The specific epithet ‘niloCca’ was probably given by Linnaeus from this tree's originally known range along the Nile river.
Distribution:
Woodlands of various sorts, wooded grasslands, scrub and thickets; often found along river banks which are subject to periodic inundation. Found at elevations from sea level to 1,300 metres. Tree succeeds growing in subtropical to tropical lowland areas.
Propagation:
Through seeds.
Uses:
• Medicinal: The bark is used to treat a wide variety of ailments in traditional medicine, its astringency makes it an excellent treatment for diarrhoea and dysentery.
• Food: The gum obtained from the stems is eaten mixed with sesame seeds, fried in ghee, or used in the Preparation of sweetmeats and candied flowers.
• Toothbrushes: The twigs are esteemed for tooth brushes.
• Fodder: In India, it constitutes a chief diet for goats and sheep, and seeds are a valuable cattle food.
• Dye: The gum obtained from the pods is used for dyes and inks in India.
• Timber: The wood is strong, heavy, hard, durable, close-grained and resistant to water
and ants. Very shock-resistant and harder than teak, it is used for making agricultural implements, boat handles, cart-wheels, planks, etc.
Environmental impact:
Soil improvement & reclamation: It is a Nitrogen fixing tree that can be grown with grass or cereal crops in order to enhance their Nitrogen value. It is used as a pioneer species in the reclamation of mining areas and in areas where degradation and erosion have occurred, an example being the Chambal ravines in India.
Botanical name:
Vachellia niloCca (L.) P.J.H. Hurter & Mabb. [Acacia niloCca (L.) Del.]
Family:
Mimosaceae
It is a coarsely hairy shrub or small tree. Ovate-lance shaped stipules are usually 4, and are visible on leafless fruiting branchlets. Oppositely arranged leaves, on 1-4 cm long stalks, are ovate, oblong, or obovate-oblong, 10-25 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, thickly papery, covered with coarse hairs. Leaf base is rounded to wedge-shaped, margin is entire or bluntly toothed, tip is pointed. Figs appear in leaf axil on normal leafy shoots, sometimes on leafless branchlets, solitary or paired, yellow or red when mature, top-shaped, 1.2-3 cm in diameter. Figs are covered with
short hairs.
Etymology:
The genus name "Callistemon" comes from the Greek words "kallos" (beauty) and "stemon" (stamen), referring to the beautiful stamens in the flower. The specific epithet citrinus means "related to citrus", in reference to the fragrant leaves.
Distribution:
It grows along rivers and forest edges. It is particularly found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia.
Propagation:
Through seeds, air layering and grafting.
Uses:
• Food: The figs produced are edible and are sometimes consumed by
local communities. The ripe figs contain a sweet pulp surrounding the
seeds,
making them a source of natural sweetness.
• Medicine: Different parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine systems
in various regions. Extracts from the leaves, bark, and other plant parts have been used for their potential medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects.
• Ecological: Ficus trees, including Kala Umbar, play a crucial role in ecosystems as a food source for various animals. Many animals, including birds and mammals, feed on the figs and aid in dispersing the tree's seeds, contributing to forest regeneration.
• Ornamental: In certain regions, it is cultivated as an ornamental plant for its attractive leaves and distinctive figs. It can be used in landscaping to enhance the visual appeal of gardens, parks, and public spaces.
Cultural Importance:
• Ficus species, including Kala Umbar, often have cultural and spiritual significance in different cultures. They can be associated with sacred trees, spiritual beliefs, and folklore. In some cultures, fig trees are believed to be the abode of deities or spirits.
• In some cultures, various parts of Kala Umbar might be used for specific traditional practices, rituals, or ceremonies.
Botanical name:
Ficus hispida L.f.
Family:
Moraceae
It is a deciduous densely tufted bamboo with stems 8-16 m high, 2.5-8 cm in diameter, pale blue green when young, dull green or yellow on maturity, much curved above half of its height. Culms are hollow when growing under humid conditions, but nearly solid under dry conditions. Many clustered branches with 1 larger dominant branch. The lower nodes often have branches. Leaves are linear-lance shaped, small in dry localities, up to 25 cm long and 3 cm broad in moist areas, rounded at the base into a short petiole, tip is sharply tapering with twisted point. Inflorescence is a large panicle of large dense globular heads 4-5 cm apart. Long stamens protrude out of the flowers.
Etymology:
The genus name ‘Dendrocalamus’ literally translates to something along the lines of “tree-like culm”. Species epithet from Latin ‘strictus’ means drawn together, close, tight.
Distribution:
It is found throughout the country in deciduous forests and rocky hills, or as understory in mixed forests and teak plantations. It grows on hill slopes, ravines and alluvial plains from sea level up to 1,200 m. The species does not grow well on water-logged or heavy soils such as pure clay or a mixture of clay and lime.
Propagation:
Through seed & Clumps.
Uses:
• Timber: Buildings, in making baskets, mats etc. Used for batons, ‘lathis’, bows and arrows, tent poles, paper pulp.
• Medicine: Decoction of leaves and nodes and silicious matter is used in traditional medicine.
• Food: Young shoots are edible and used as food. Flowering is followed by seed set that results in drying of the plant. Seeds are consumed as a food in famine by natives.
Botanical name:
Dendrocalamus strictus Nees
Family:
Poaceae
It can grow as either a small shrub or tree
ranging in height from 0.9-6.1 m with widely spaced thick succulent branches that are often covered with "knobby" protuberances. The leaves are clustered near the tips of the branches. They are large, 6-22 cm long, 2-7 cm wide, and have a characteristic obovate shape and the tip of the leaf is rounded, rather than pointed as it is in other species. The leaves are dark and leathery and tend to be shiny on the upper surface with conspicuous parallel secondary veins that run from the midvein to the margins of the leaves. The flowers of this species are borne in
clusters that form at the ends of the branches on a long thick stalk. Each inflorescence contains many white flowers with a small yellow center. Flowers contain five petals that are fused at the base in a short funnel-shaped tube which gradually widens as the lobes of the petals are spread out. The fruit of this species is a dry follicle which splits along one side to release the winged seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name "Plumeria" honors Charles Plumier, a French botanist who contributed to the study of Caribbean flora in the 17th century. The species name "obtusa" is Latin and means "blunt" or "obtuse." It refers to the shape of the leaf tips, which are rounded or somewhat blunt, compared to some other Plumeria species with pointed leaf tips.
Distribution:
It is found in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam. It is widely cultivated in tropical climates including eastern Africa, Asia.
Propagation:
Through seeds, cuttings and grafting
Uses:
• Ornamental: It is widely cultivated for its stunning and fragrant flowers. It is often grown in gardens, parks, and landscapes to add tropical beauty and elegance to outdoor spaces.The fragrant flowers are used to create traditional Hawaiian leis, garlands, and floral arrangements. The flowers' attractive appearance and pleasant scent make them popular choices for special occasions and celebrations.
• Essential oils: Oil extracted from the flowers are used in aromatherapy to promote
relaxation, relieve stress, and improve mood.
• Medicine: Some parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine for their potential medicinal properties. However, it's important to note that certain parts of the plant can be toxic
if ingested.
• Plumeria enthusiasts often propagate and
cultivate different varieties of Plumeria obtusa
L., each with unique flower colors and patterns.
These varieties contribute to the diversity of ornamental plants available to gardeners and landscapers.
Cultural Importance :
• In many cultures, Plumeria flowers hold symbolic meanings related to love, devotion, and spirituality. They are used in various religious ceremonies, rituals, and cultural traditions.
Botanical name:
Plumeria obtusa L.
Family:
Apocynaceae
A large, glabrous, usually epiphytal tree; bark grey, smooth; exudation milky. Leaves coriaceous, long-petiolate, ovate-rotund, narrowed upwards and the apex produced into a linear-lanceolate tail, edges entire, undulate; base broad, rounded to truncate, from 5 to 7 nerved; lateral primary nerves about 8 pairs; length of blade from 4.5 to 7 inches, petiole long slender; stipules minute ovate-acute. Flowers unisexual; inflorescence a syconia, sessile, axillary, in pairs, obovoid or globose, twig wall thick; basal bracts 3, 3-5 mm long, ovate- obtuse, silky-puberulous, persistent, orifice, closed by 3 apical bracts in a disc 2-3 mm wide; internal bristles none; flowers of 4 kinds; male flowers ostiolar, sessile, in one ring; tepals 2, ovate-lanceolate, free, reddish; stamen 1; filaments 0.2 mm; anther oblong, parallel; female flowers sessile; tepals 3-4, linear- lanceolate, free, brownish, glabrous; ovary superior, ovoid-oblong, 1 mm, red-brown, style 1.5 mm, lateral, stigma rounded; gall flowers similar to female. Syconium 4-8 mm across, ripening pink, purple or black; achenes smooth.
Etymology:
This is the genus name for fig trees. It comes from the Latin word "Ficus," which means "fig tree." The genus Ficus is known for its diverse species of trees, shrubs, and vines that produce fig fruits. This specific term comes from the Latin word "religiosus," which means "sacred" or "reverential" was chosen because the tree is considered sacred in various cultures, especially in South and Southeast Asia, where it is commonly referred to as the "Sacred Fig."
Distribution:
Widely planted in temple premises in India, Sri Lanka. Wild in the sub- Himalayan forests, in Bengal and in Central India, commonly planted throughout the country. Forest outskirts, near villages, usually planted near temples in Maharashtra. Common in open lands, on old buildings and large trees.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds & air layering.
Uses:
• Food: Figs are consumed as famine food during periods of food
• Fodder: Its leaves are lopped as fodder for elephants, camels, goats
and cattle; having about 10-14% crude protein. Silage prepared from
the tree is palatable and digestible.
• Fuel: It is used as firewood.
• Timber: Its wood is greyish-white, moderately hard, and heavy, weighing 480-640
kg/m3. It is moderately durable under cover and quite durable under water. It is little used but is occasionally converted into packing cases, cheap boarding, yokes, spoons and bowls.
• Latex or rubber: Bird-lime can be prepared from its milky juice.
• Tannin or dyestuff: Its bark is used in tanning.
• Medicine: The ripe fruit is cooling and relieves foul taste, thirst, biliousness, diseases
of blood and heart; it is a laxative and helps digestion. It is used for medicinal purposes, such as toothaches. Dried fruit cure asthma; seeds are useful in urinary discharge; young bark is an astringent.
Symbolic:
The sacred fig is the state tree of the Indian states of Odisha, Bihar and Haryana.
Cultural importance:
• In Bhagvat Gita, Lord Shri Krishna, the Narayan, compared himself with that of a Pimpal tree. For Hindus, Pimpal is the most sacred tree.
• Buddha received enlightenment under Bodhi or Pimpal tree at Bodh Gaya. Its sapling was taken to Sri Lanka by Mahindra, son of emperor Ashoka, which still flourishes after been over 2,200 years.
Ecological Importance:
• Fruits are of delicacy for number of birds such as Mynah, Babblers, Bulbul, Cuckoo, Parakeet and seasonal visitors like Rosy pasters which often visit it in flocks.
• Pimpal tree is always seems full of life due to number of activities such as small and big ants always marching to and from it.
Botanical name:
Ficus religiosa L.
Family:
Moraceae
The Coconut Palm is a member of the palm family. It is the only species in the Genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60- 90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. The term coconut refers to the fruit of the coconut palm. The flowers of the coconut palm are polygamy monoecious, with both male and female flowers in the same inflorescence. Flowering occurs continuously, with female flowers producing seeds. Coconut palms are believed to be largely cross-pollinated, although some dwarf varieties are self- pollinating.
Etymology:
The genus name "Cocos" comes from the Portuguese and Spanish word "coco," which means "monkey face" or "grinning face." This name was given to the coconut due to its three indentations that resemble a monkey's face. The species name "nucifera" is Latin and translates to "nut-bearing" or "nut-bearing plant."
Distribution:
Widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions around the world. They can be found in countries throughout Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Pacific islands.
Propagation:
Through seeds and various vegetative propagation techniques.
Symbolic
The coconut tree is the official State tree of Kerala, India.
Uses:
Food and Beverages: Coconut Water, the clear liquid inside young green coconuts is a popular natural beverage known for its hydrating properties and nutritional benefits.
Coconut Flesh: The white flesh of the coconut, known as the "meat," is used in a variety of culinary dishes, both sweet and savory. It can be eaten raw, grated, dried, or used to make coconut milk and coconut cream.
Coconut Milk and Cream: Extracted from the grated coconut flesh, these are essential ingredients in many Asian and tropical cuisines, used in curries, soups, desserts, and beverages.
• Cooking and Culinary Uses: Coconut oil extracted from the copra (dried coconut meat), coconut oil is used for cooking, baking, frying, and as a base for various food products. It is also used in non-food applications like skincare and hair care.
• Fiber and Textiles: The fibrous outer husk of the coconut is used to make coir, which is a versatile material used for making ropes, mats, brushes, and even geotextiles for erosion control.
Timber: The trunk of the coconut palm can be used as a building material, especially in rural and coastal areas. It's used for making support beams, walls, and roofing.
• Fuel and Cooking Fuel: The hard outer shell of the coconut can be used as a source of charcoal, which is used for cooking and heating.
• Crafts and Utensils: Apart from fuel, coconut shells can be carved into decorative items, bowls, cups, and even musical instruments like maracas.
• Health and Beauty: Coconut oil is used in various skincare and hair care products due to its moisturizing and nourishing properties.
• Medicinal Uses: Various parts of the coconut tree, including the roots, leaves, and oil, have been used in traditional medicine for various purposes such as wound healing, digestion, and skin conditions.
• Ornamental and Landscaping: Coconut leaves large fronds are used for thatching roofs, making baskets, and creating decorative elements in landscaping.
Cultural Importance :
Coconuts are often used in religious rituals and ceremonies. In Hinduism, coconuts are offered to deities as a symbol of purity and devotion. They are also used in certain Buddhist rituals and are associated with auspicious occasions.
The coconut palm is often seen as a symbol of fertility, vitality, and life. Its ability to grow in coastal areas where other plants struggle to survive has led to its association with resilience and endurance.
Botanical name:
Callistemon citrinus (Curtis) Skeels
Family:
Myrtaceae
It is a deciduous tree, growing up to 14 m tall. Branchlets are minutely covered with starry hairs. Alternately arranged leaves are pinnate, with a single terminal leaflet (pinnae) at the end. The spine carrying the leaflets is up to 7 cm long. Leaflets are usually 5, each laterals opposite, ovate, base rounded, densely velvet-hairy when young. Flowers are unisexual, greenish, the male in compound and female in simple racemes. Sepals 4, about 1 mm long, broad ovate.
Petals 4, 2 mm long, oblong, green yellow. Fruit is ovoid, compressed, in panicles, at the end of leafless branches.
Etymology:
The genus name "Lannea" is derived from the name of Jean Baptiste Louis Pierre, Chevalier de Lanne, a French botanist and plant collector who lived in the 18th century. The species epithet "coromandelica" refers to the Coromandel Coast, a region along the southeastern coast of India.
Distribution:
It can be found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Propagation:
Through seed
Uses:
• Traditional Medicine: Various parts of the Lannea coromandelica tree have been used in traditional medicine in different regions. The bark, leaves, and other plant parts are believed to possess medicinal properties. In Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine, the tree has been used to treat ailments such as diarrhea, dysentery, inflammation, and bone-related disorders.
Bone Health: In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, it is believed to have properties that support bone health. It is often referred to as "Ashmantaka" in Sanskrit, which suggests its role in maintaining healthy bones. Antioxidant Properties: Some studies have indicated that extracts possess antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help protect cells from oxidative stress and may have potential health benefits.
• Tannins and Dyes: The bark of the tree contains tannins, which are used for tanning leather
and in the production of dyes.
• Wood Uses: The wood has been used for making furniture, agricultural implements,
and other products. It is known for its durability and strength.
• Gum and Resin: The tree produces gum and resin that have potential industrial.
Cultural Importance:
• In some regions, the tree holds mythological and folkloric importance. It might be associated with stories, legends, or religious beliefs that highlight its healing properties or connections to local deities or spiritual practices.
• Trees with cultural significance often become focal points for rituals and offerings. It the tree is considered sacred or associated with deities.
Botanical name:
Lannea coromandelica (Houtt.) Merr.
Family:
Anacardiaceae
A small or moderate-sized thorny, deciduous tree reaching a height of 40 ft., sometimes more. Leaves simple, 1 to 2.5 in. long by 0.75 to 1.5 in. wide, alternately set along the branches, ovate-elliptic, rounded at both ends, minutely and irregularly toothed (denticulate) along the margins, 3-nerved, covered with a grey or russet
down beneath. Prickles 1-2 at the base of each leaf-stalk, when two are
present, one is usually straight and the other hooked. Flowers small in axillary clusters. Fruit a drupe 1/2 to 5/8 in. in diameter, globose, fleshy, edible; stone hard, containing’ 1 or 2 seeds externally wrinkled.
Etymology:
Ziziphus is derived from the Arabic name zizouf a name given to one of the species; mauritiana means from mauritious.
Distribution:
Throughout India ascending to 5,000 ft. The Ber thrives in the drier parts of the country. It is also found in Afghanistan, Ceylon, China, Australia and Africa.
Propagation:
Propagated by seed.
Uses:
Ethnobotanical: The tree affords much of the fuel used in dry areas and the thorny
branches are used for fencing in agricultural districts.
Fodder: The branches are lopped off for cattle fodder. The wood is also used for saddle trees, agricultural implements, and many other purposes.
Economical: The fruit forms an article of commerce. Cultivated varieties produce much larger fruit than the wild plants (1 to 1.5 in. long and egg-shaped).
Botanical name:
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.
Family:
Rhamnaceae
It is a clumping bamboo that can grow up to 55 feet tall. It has
slender, glossy culms that are yellow-green to green in color. The culms are often swollen at the internodes, giving the bamboo its characteristic appearance. The leaves are long and narrow, and they are arranged in a spiral pattern around the culms.
Etymology:
The genus name, Bambusa, is derived from the Malay word "bambu".
The specific epithet, ventricosa, means "swollen", referring to the characteristic
swollen internodes of the culms.
Distribution:
It is native to southern China and Vietnam, but it is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It is a popular ornamental bamboo, and it is also used for hedges and screens.
Propagation:
Can be propagated from clumps and cuttings.
Uses:
It is a popular ornamental bamboo. It is also used for hedges and screens.
The culms can be used to make furniture, baskets, and other objects.
Botanical name:
Bambusa ventricosa McClure
Family:
Poaceae
A moderate-sized deciduous tree attaining a height of 40 to 50 ft. Leaves compound, paripinnate, 9 to 20 in. long, leaflets 4 to 8 pairs, opposite, egg-shaped, tip acute. Flowers large, as long or longer than the leaves. Corolla composed of five large showy unequal clawed petals, bright to golden-yellow. Stamens 7, 3 as long as the style, the remaining 4 shorter than the petals. During leaf less period flower occur covering all branches. Fruit a pod, 1 to 2 ft. long, indehiscent, with 40 to 100 seeds embedded in a dark-coloured sweetish pulp. Each seed is completely separated from its neighbor by transverse partitions. Seeds thick, numerous, ovate or ellipsoidal, glabrous.
Etymology:
The generic name comes from the Greek “κασια” (casia) utilized by Dioscorides derived for Hebrew name ‘Quetsia’; specific epithet ‘fistula’ means a pipe, in allusion to the shape of the fruit.
Distribution:
Common throughout the dry deciduous forests of India ascending to 4,000 ft., Peninsular India.
Propagation:
Through seed. The seeds germinate with some difficulty, but seeds which have been kept a year or so germinate more readily.
Uses:
The bark is used as a tan and as a drug.
• The pulp of the fruit is used as a safe purgative, but it
does not keep well. The pulp is also largely used in
Bengal especially, to flavour tobacco.
• The Santals use the flowers as an article of food.
• The wood is very durable but owing to its small
diameter is rarely of use except for posts, darts, and agricultural instruments and rice-pounders.
Symbolic importance:
It is the official state flower of Kerala state in India. In Thailand, the Cassia fistula L. tree is the national tree, and the yellow flowers became the country’s national flower because they represent both Buddhism and Thai royalty.
Cultural importance:
Bahava tree have been mentioned as sacred tree in ancient textbooks in India, such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. For Keralites, the golden blooms of the ‘kanikonna’ tree are highly symbolic and have much cultural significance. The flowering of the golden shower tree generally signals the arrival of the harvest season as well as the much-awaited Vishu festival.
Botanical name:
Cassia fistula L.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is a small to medium-sized tree that can grow up to 17 feet tall. It has distinctive leaves that are bilobed at the base and apex, giving them a heart-shaped or butterfly-shaped appearance. The flowers are large and showy, with five purple petals and a yellow center. They are produced in clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruit is a long, flat pod that contains several seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name, Bauhinia, is named after the Swiss botanists Johann and Caspar Bauhin. The specific epithet, purpurea, means "purple", referring to the color of the flowers.
Distribution:
Kanchan is native to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, but it is now widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Found in Western Ghats & Eastern Ghats, Dry Deciduous Forests, but it is a popular cultivated ornamental tree, and it is also u sed for shade and windbreaks.
Propagation:
Through seeds and from cuttings.
Uses:
Ornamental: Kanchan is a popular ornamental tree. It is also used for shade and windbreaks.
• Timber: The wood is hard and strong, and it is used for making furniture, tool handles, and other objects.
• Edible: The flowers, and young pods are edible in some cultures.
• Medicinal: The Malays use the leaves to treat sores and boils. The flowers are said to
be laxative. The bark is used in the treatment of skin disease.
Botanical name:
Bauhinia purpurea L.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is a majestic semi-deciduous tall tree, that can grow up to 30 meters tall. It has a dense crown of leaves and a straight trunk. The bark is dark gray and scaly. The leaf arrangement is alternate; the leaves themselves are odd- or even-pinnate compound, around 50 - 70cm long, with 3 - 7 pairs of leaflets on each leaf. The leaflets are oblong to elliptical, dark green and glossy on the upper side, and light green on the underside. Leaflets are 8 - 17cm long, - 7cm wide. The flowers are very small (less than 1cm wide), borne in clusters, and are pale white in colour. Each flower has 5 small petals. Fruits are woody capsules which split open with 3 or 4 valves. Each fruit contains numerous seeds with brown wings at two ends, horizontally arranged. The fruit colour changes from grey to black when it ripens.
Etymology:
The genus name, Khaya, is derived from the Wolof word "khaya", which means "tree". The specific epithet, senegalensis, means "from Senegal", referring to the tree's native range.
Distribution:
Tree is spread in Riverine forests and is scattered within the higher-rainfall savannah woodlands. In moister areas it is found on uplands, but is restricted to riparian habitats or stream bottoms that extend into the savannah in the drier portions of the range. It is found in Senegal, Faso, Niger, Benin, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In India cultivated as an ornamental tree in gardens and parks.
Propagation:
Through seed Propagated from seeds and root suckers.
Uses:
Ornamental: Tree is planted as an ornamental and avenue species in gardens and parks.
• Timber: It is a valuable tree for its timber, which is used for furniture, cabinetry, and construction. The wood is hard, durable, and has a beautiful grain.
• Medicine: The bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including malaria, fever, diarrhea, and dysentery.
• Other uses: It is also used for shade, windbreaks, and as a source of food for livestock.
Botanical name:
Khaya senegalensis (Desv.) A.Juss.
Family:
Meliaceae
Deciduous trees, to 15 m high, bark 10-12mm, white or greenish-grey, smooth, exfoliating in large, thin, papery flakes; blaze red; exudation yellowish-white, sticky; branches horizontal; branchlets pubescent. Leaves simple, palmately 3-5 lobed, alternate, clustered at the tips of branchlets; stipules free, lateral, cauducous; petiole 8-18 cm long, stout, pubescent; lamina 15-30 x 18-30 cm, orbicular, base cordate or sagittate, lobe apex acuminate or caudate-acuminate, margin entire, glabrous above, velvety pubescent beneath, coriaceous; 3-5-ribbed from base, palmate, prominent, lateral nerves 5-7 pairs, pinnate, prominent, intercostae sub-scalariform, faint. Flowers polygamous, greenish-yellow, in axillary panicles, covered with sticky tomentose of glandular, stellate hairs; calyx yellow, campanulate, hairy on both surfaces, lobes 5, a small hairy gland at the base of each lobe; petals absent; male flowers: staminal column short with 10 anthers at its tip; bisexual flowers: carpels usually 5, free, superior, on a short stout gynophore; style short, thick, hairy; stigmas 5; stamens in a ring round the carpel. Fruit an aggregate of 4-6 follicles, red, densely pubescent, mixed with stinging hairs; seeds 3-6, brown or black, oblong.
Etymology:
The genus name, Sterculia, is derived from the Latin word "stercus", meaning "manure", referring to the smell of the flowers and leaves of some species. The specific epithet, urens, means "stinging", referring to the hairs on the flowers.
Distribution:
It is particularly popular in regions with a tropical or subtropical climate. Widely cultivated in India, especially in gardens and parks.
Propagation:
Through seeds and also by cutting.
Uses:
Gum: Tree produces a gum known as gum karaya, which is used in a variety of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Gum karaya is a thickener, emulsifier, and stabilizer. It is also used as a laxative and to treat diarrhea.
Timber: The wood is strong and durable, and it is used for furniture, cabinetry, and construction.
Medicine: The bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including malaria, fever, and diarrhea.
Botanical name:
Sterculia urens Roxb.
Family:
Sterculiaceae
An erect, deciduous tree reaching 30-40 ft. with a crooked trunk and irregular branches. Bark ash-colored and rough, young shoots downy. Leaves 3-foliate; leaflets leathery, finely silky below when young, turning glabrous with age; the terminal leaflet is obovate, 4-8 in. long, the lateral leaflets are broader, more rounded or somewhat oblique. Flowers large, grouped in dense clusters along the branches; petals flaming orange internally, externally salmon due to the delicate coating of silky white hairs, lower petals united to form a ‘boat;’. Pod one seeded, 4-6 in. long by 1-1.5 in. wide.
Etymology:
Commemorative name after John Stewart Earl of Bute (1713-1792) and Prime Minister of England (1762-3), a magnificent Patron of Botany; monosperma from Latin, ‘single seed’.
Distribution:
Common throughout the greater part of
India. Thrives well in black, cotton soil.
Propagation:
Through seed.
Uses:
The various parts of the tree have numerous uses: it is decorative, useful in the recovery of salt lands and for the cultivation of the lack insect.
• The red gum is used in medicine, tanning and dyeing.
• Root fibre made into ropes and sandals. Leaves for ‘plates’ and packing of food.
• The flowers yield an Orange color dye.
• The tree is somewhat sacred and is mentioned in the Vedas.
Botanical name:
Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.
Family:
Fabaceae
Tall deciduous tree; bark covered with hard sharp conical prickles. Leaves large, compound; leaflets 3-7, entire margin, glabrous, reticulately veined, lanceolate or oval, acute at the base. Flowers numerous, near the ends of the branches, appearing before the new leaves. Calyx thick, usually 2-3-lobed; lobes rounded, densely silky within, glabrous. Corolla bright red, tomentose on the outside, sparingly pubescent within; petals elliptic-oblong, recurved, with close parallel veins. Stamens in 5 bundles of about 9-12 each, and an inner bundle of 15, of which the 5 innermost are the longest. Ovary conical, glabrous; style a little longer than the stamens. Fruit ovoid, downy, 5-valved, lined within with white silky hairs. Seeds numerous, ovoid, packed in white silky cotton.
Etymology:
The genus comes from the Greek bombyx meaning silk in reference to the silky hairs in the seed capsule. The specific epithet ‘ceiba‘ is clearly of American origin thus indicating the fact that Linnaeus was describing a New World taxon.
Distribution:
Grow in dry to medium moisture well- drained soils in full sun. Throughout India and Burma up to an altitude 3,000 to 5,000 ft.
Propagation:
Propagated by seed.
Uses:
The tree yields a dark-brown astringent gum
used in medicine. The inner bark of the tree yields a good fibre suitable for cordage. The wood is used in the manufacture of matches. The most important product of the tree is the floss used for upholstery and life-belts. Trade name is Semul. The cotton obtained from the capsules is an excellent material for filling mattress, cushions, and pillows.
Note: A yellow-flowered form exists. The tree is called the varma-druma, or tree of the infernal regions or of the god of death, because it makes a great show of flowers and produces no edible fruit. The cut branches exude mucilage in water.
Cultural importance:
Many tribal communities consume Kate-savar because of its medicinal properties. Others worship and protect the tree. A clan of the Bhil tribe in Rajasthan, for instance, protects the tree because they consider it a tree totem. The
Khuman clan of the Meetie community in Manipur also protects and conserves the tree and uses the tree produce. Many folk songs are dedicated to the semal tree in the tribal regions across India.
Environmental impact:
The open flowers are visited by many pollinators including fruit bats for the nectar.
Botanical name:
Bombax ceiba L.
Family:
Bombacaceae
A moderate sized deciduous tree attaining height of 10-12 meter with presence of spines. Leaflet blades are ovate to elliptic in shape, base rounded, margin toothed, with pointed apex.
The flowers are fragrant, form 4–7 clusters along the new branches. A flower
has four or five recurved and fleshy petals. The flower is sweet-scented, stalked, lax, erect,
and occurred axillary or terminal
cymes.
The fruits have a hard, smooth-woody shell, a soft rind at immature stages. The crust is gray-green at early stages, turns yellowish or orange at the ripening, becomes very hard and orange-red when dried. The aromatic tiny oil glands appear as dots on the fruit shell. Fruit contain aromatic, pale- orange, pasty, sweet, resinous, astringent pulp with a pleasing aroma. The ripen fruit flesh is yellowish-orange
in color, mucilage, fibrous, and aromatic. The seeds embed in a pulp-adhesive transparent
mucilage, which solidified like a glassy crystal when dried.
Etymology:
The term Aegle comes from Aegle, name of a nymph of the Hesperides: reference
to Linnaeus (and, before him, Giovanni Battista Ferrari) who defined the citrus Hesperides or
fruits of the Hesperides.
The specific epithet marmelos comes from the old Galician (from Latin and the ancient
Gallaic-Portuguese) marmelo, in turn from the Latin melimelum, i.e. sweet apple.
Distribution:
Common in Semi-evergreen & dry deciduous forests of Maharashtra.
Propagation:
Plant can be propagate by using seeds as well as vegetative means. The seed does not retain viability for long and regeneration by root-sucker appears to be the chief mode of Propagation.
Uses:
Medicinal: Unripe fruits used against Diarrhea, dysentery & stomachalgia. Ripe fruit pulp is good for heart and brain & in dyspepsia. Roots are used in seminal weakness, uropathy, swellings, intermittent fever & Gastric irritability in infants. Leaf juice extract : Externally applied in abscess.
Dye: Fruit rind Yields Yellow color dye
Cultural importance:
Trifoliate leaf is believed to be by Hindus as reincarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, a triune godhead. Leaves are offered in worship in homas.
Botanical name:
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa.
Family:
Rutaceae
It is a medium or large deciduous ornamental tree. Graceful, drooping slender branches; crown conical in early life, becoming broader later. Bark of saplings almost silvery white and smooth, gradually changing as the tree gets older to dark grey and rough with
irregular vertical cracks, 1.2-2.5 cm thick, exfoliating in narrow flakes. In isolated situations, or on poor soils, the tree tends to branch low down and produce a short bole, but when grown in a fairly crowded crop on favourable soil it produces a long, straight, cylindrical bole with an elevated crown. Leaves small, 2-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide, alternate, pinnate, almost kidney shaped and greyish-green. Flowers small, pale yellowish-green in axillary and terminal lax panicled racemes. The pod flat and samaroid, 5-7.6 x 1-1.5 cm, oblong lanceolate, coriaceous, narrowed at both ends, with parallel longitudinal veins, containing 1 seed near the apex.
Etymology:
The genus name "Hardwickia" is in honor of Thomas Hardwicke (1756–1835), a British naturalist and entomologist who made significant contributions to the study of natural history in India during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Hardwicke was also a founder of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which played a crucial role in documenting and researching the natural history of India. The species name "binata" is derived from the Latin word "binatus," which means "paired" or "double."
Distribution:
It is found in a variety of habitats, including dry deciduous forests, scrublands, and open grasslands. It prefers well-drained soils but can tolerate occasional flooding. Commonly found in the
central and southern parts of India.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds. The tree is known to have excellent regenerative abilities and can recover after being cut down.
Uses:
Timber: The heartwood of Anjan is dark brown and durable, making it highly valued for timber. It is used in construction, furniture making, and for various other purposes.
• Medicine: Various parts of the tree, including the bark and leaves, have traditional
medicinal uses. The bark is used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhoea, dysentery,
and various other gastrointestinal problems.
• Forage: The tree is browsed by livestock and provides valuable fodder for them.
Conservation:
Due to its ecological importance and significance in providing timber and fodder, efforts are being made to conserve and sustainably manage populations of Anjan in some regions.
Botanical name:
Hardwickia binata Roxb.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree with a spreading growth habit. The leaves are alternate and bilobed, resembling the shape of a butterfly's wings. The upper surface of the leaves is green and smooth, while the lower surface is covered with dense, soft, woolly hairs. Flowers are borne in showy, pendulous clusters, bright yellow in color, and shaped like orchids, which earned it the common name "Yellow Orchid Tree." The petals are clawed and typically five in number.
Etymology:
The genus name "Bauhinia" was given in honor of the Bauhin brothers, Gaspard Bauhin (1560-1624) and Johann Bauhin (1541-1613), who were Swiss-French botanists and physicians. They made significant contributions to the field of botany and plant classification. The name "Bauhinia" was first used by Linnaeus to commemorate their work and their collaboration in producing a botanical encyclopedia. The species name "tomentosa" is derived from the Latin word "tomentum," which means "dense hair" or "felt." It refers to the characteristic dense and soft, hairy, or fuzzy texture of the leaves and sometimes other parts of the plant. This hairy covering on the leaves can help protect the plant from excessive sunlight and reduce water loss through transpiration.
Distribution:
It is native to India and can be found in several states across the country, including Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. In world Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Africa, various tropical and subtropical regions.
Propagation:
The plant can be propagated through seeds. It is also possible to use stem cuttings for propagation.
Uses:
Medicine: Traditionally, various parts of the plant have been used in folk medicine. Infusions or decoctions of the leaves and bark have been employed to treat conditions like diabetes, stomach disorders, and skin ailment.
• Ornamental: Bauhinia tomentosa is valued for its striking yellow flowers, making it a popular choice for ornamental planting in gardens, parks, and along roadsides.
• Timber: While it is not primarily grown for timber, the wood from this tree is moderately heavy and durable, which can make it suitable for certain small-scale applications.
Botanical name:
Bauhinia tomentosa L.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is a large, deciduous tree; bark surface yellowish-brown, rough, deeply fissured, exfoliating in irregular semi brittle scales. Leaves bipinnate, feathery leaves add elegance to its appearance. Leaves are slender, grooved above, with a gland at its base, glabrous, pulvinate; leaflets 8-20, opposite, a gland between each leaflets, obliquely oblong,
margin entire, glabrous above and slightly pubescent beneath, coriaceous.. The tree showcases small, greenish-white flowers in rounded clusters, emitting a delicate fragrance that attracts pollinators; stamens many, filament tube shorter than corolla tube, filaments long exserted, green. Pods are elongated and flat, adorned with numerous ovate, dull dark brown, flattened seeds, are a distinctive feature, making tree a captivating and valuable addition to its native habitats.
Etymology:
The genus "Albizia" is named in honor of Filippo del Albizzi, an Italian nobleman and naturalist, and the species name "lebbeck" originates from the Arabic word "labak," referring to a type of gum or resin.
Distribution:
Tree is found in a wide range of habitats, from lowland to submontane regions. It thrives in dry and moist deciduous forests, as well as savannas and grasslands. It is adaptable to different soil types, but generally prefers well- drained soils.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds, which have good germination rates. Additionally, branch and root cuttings can be used for vegetative propagation.
Uses:
Medicine: Various parts of the tree, such as the bark, leaves, and pods, are used in traditional medicine. A decoction of the bark is used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, and skin diseases. The leaves and seeds are known for their antiseptic and anti- inflammatory properties.
• Timber: The wood is moderately hard and durable. It is used for construction purposes, including making furniture, as well as for agricultural tools and implements.
• Fodder: The foliage of the tree serves as a valuable source of fodder for livestock.
• Ornamental: Due to its broad crown and attractive feathery foliage; tree is cultivated as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks, and along roadsides, providing shade and
aesthetic appeal.
• Soil Improvement: As a leguminous tree, it enriches the soil with nitrogen through its
symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Botanical name:
Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth.
Family:
Mimosaceae
Deciduous trees, to 30 m high, bark 10-20 mm thick, yellowish-brown, rough, shallowly vertically fissured, fibrous; blaze pale yellowish concentrically lamellate; bole often fluted at base; branchlets 5-10 mm thick, 4-angled, puberulous. Leaves simple, opposite, estipulate; petiole 10-50 mm long, stout, tomentose; lamina 30-60 x 15-30 cm, ovate, obovate, base attenuate, apex acute or obtuse, margin entire, wavy, glabrous above and pubescent below with minute red glands, coriaceous; lateral nerves 8-10 pairs, pinnate, prominent, raised beneath, puberulent beneath; intercostae scalariform, prominent. Flowers bisexual, white, 7 mm across, in terminal cymose panicles, 10-30 cm across, puberulus; calyx 5 mm long, campanulate, lobes 5-6, subequal, ovate, tomentose; corolla 6 mm long, lobes 5-6, oblong, spreading; stamens 5-6, equal, erect, inserted at the throat, exserted; filaments 3 mm; anthers oblong; ovary globose, superior, densely hairy, 4- celled, 1 ovule in each cell; style slender, 4 mm; stigma linearly bifid. Fruit a drupe, 1.5-2 cm across, globose, brown, densely floccose hairy, covered by the inflated calyx, epicarp spongy, endocarp stony; seeds 1-4, oblong.
Etymology:
The genus name, Tectona, is derived from the vernacular name for teak in some parts of India, where the tree is native. The word "Tectona" likely has its origins in the Malayalam language, in which the tree is known as "tekka." The species name, grandis, is Latin and means "large" or "grand." It likely refers to the impressive size that teak trees can reach when fully grown. Teak trees are indeed known for their large and tall stature.
Distribution:
Teak is native to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. It prefers tropical moist deciduous forests and can be found in a variety of
habitats, from lowland valleys to hilly areas.
Propagation:
Teak is primarily propagated through seeds. It can also be propagated through stem cuttings
Uses:
• Timber: Teak is renowned for its high-quality timber, which is durable, strong, and resistant to decay and termite attacks. It is highly sought after for fine furniture, boat building, and various construction purposes.
• Ornamental: Teak is also cultivated as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks, and large landscapes due to its stately appearance and attractive foliage.
• Medicine: In traditional medicine, various parts of the teak tree have been used to treat skin disorders, digestive issues, and respiratory problems.
Botanical name:
Tectona grandis L.f.
Family:
Verbenaceae
A large handsome evergreen tree with large irregularly shaped leaves, green above and greyish white beneath. Leaves very variable in shape and size, orbicular, oblong, margins variously lobed and indented, cordate, or peltate (petiole arising towards the ‘centre’ of the leaf below), smooth and shining above, whitish or rusty-coloured beneath with adpressed hairs. Flowers large, solitary or in pairs, in the axils of the leaves, fragrant; calyx composed of five thick, long sepals which curl backwards as the flower opens, 4-5 in. long; petals 5, at first arranged in a tubular form (when fresh), finally falling apart and withering early, slightly shorter than the sepals. Fruit a capsule 4 to 6 in. long by 2 to 3 in. oblong, five-angled, covered externally with a dense coating of “woolly” hairs. Seeds oblique with a large thin papery wing.
Etymology:
Pterospermum a combination of two Greek words meaning winged seed and acerifolium in allusion to the leaves resembling those of the Maple—Acer.
Distribution:
Occurs in forested slopes; swamp forests; along riverbanks and in damp valleys in humid lowland forests. The sub-Himalayan tract and outer Himalayan valleys, and hills up to 4,000 ft, Bengal, Assam, Burma, N. Kanara.
Propagation:
Through seeds
Uses:
Medicinal: The down on the leaves is used by the hill people to stop bleeding.
Timber: The wood is used for making planking; it may also be used in the
manufacture of furniture. It takes a good polish. The leaves are employed for packing. The cut branches and sepals exude a mucilage when put into water: The sepals are used medicinally.
Ethnobotanical importance:
Mature leaves are very large, and used as actual dinner plates or as packaging and storage by wrapping materials inside. They are shaped into regular dinner plates and soup bowls on moulds, some even stitched together with twigs. Hindu people employ the plant for religious purposes.
Note:
The flowers open at night and fall by morning; they are sweet scented. The flowers are visited by bats. India used plant as Postage Stamp
Botanical name:
Pterospermum acerifolium Willd.
Family:
Sterculiaceae
Deciduous trees; to 30 m high; bark thick, surface greenish-yellow, smooth, exfoliation small, irregular; blaze red; branchlets brownish to blackish or yellowish, terete, 3-13 mm thick, silky pubescent. Leaves bipinnate, alternate, stipulate; stipule free, lateral; rachis 13-30 cm long, slender, pulvinate, puberulous, with a prominent gland near its base; pinnae 2-5 (6) pairs, slender, evenly pinnate, opposite, puberulous; leaflets 4-20, opposite, even pinnate, estipellate, petiolule 2-3 mm long; lamina obliquely oblong, obliquely ovate or obliquely oblong-ovate, base unequal, round on the upper side of the midrib and acute on the lower side, apex round or subacute, margin entire, glabrous above, white pilose beneath, with a gland between terminal pairs of leaflets, subcoriaceous, midrib subcentral, slightly towards the distal margin; lateral nerves 6-10 pairs, pinnate, slender, prominent, intercostae reticulate, obscure. Flowers bisexual, yellowish-white, in globose heads, forming axillary or terminal panicles; calyx tube narrowly obconic, glabrous, teeth triangular; corolla 5-7 mm long, 5-lobed; lobes oblong-elliptic, puberulous towards apex; stamens many, 8-12 mm long, monadelphous at base, tube longer than the corolla tube; ovary oblong, stipitate, glabrous, style filiform; stigma terminal. Fruit a pod 10-20 x 1.8-2.5 cm, strap-shaped, flat, thin walled, rostrate at apex, glabrous, often glossy, faintly reticulately veined, black, brown or yellow when dry, stalk very short; seeds 5-12, ovate-elliptic, compressed, greenish-brown.
Etymology:
The generic name honors the Italian nobleman Filippo degli Albizzi, who introduced Albizia to Europe in the mid-18th century. The species epithet is derived from the Latin procerus - very tall or high, alluding to the height the species can attain.
Distribution:
It is found in a wide range of habitats, including open forests, grasslands, and savannas, often along riverbanks and roadsides. It thrives in well-drained soils and is commonly found in dry and moist deciduous forests across the Indian subcontinent.
Propagation:
Propagation can be from seeds or by suckers which are produced in quantity.
Uses:
• Medicine: Various parts are used in traditional medicine. The bark is used to treat ailments such as fever and abdominal pain. Leaf poultices are applied to relieve malarial fever and to soothe cracked feet. Preparations from dried leaves are used to treat diabetes and urinary problems.
• Timber: Kinhai yields a medium-weight timber with pale to dark brown heartwood. The wood is valued for its resistance to termites, making it suitable for various construction purposes.
Tannin: The bark can provide tanning material. It is used in India for tanning and dyeing.
Botanical name:
Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth.
Family:
Mimosaceae
A small tree reaching 40 ft. Leaves, fern-like, imparipinnately bi-or sometimes tri-pinnate, pinnae 9-18 in. long, opposite or alternate, leaflets 3-11 opposite or nearly so 0.5-2 in., ovate, lanceolate acuminate, bluntly serrate, sometimes lobed, glabrous, unequally sided. Flowers in long axillary panicles, shorter than the leaves, lillac in colour. Calyx with 5 or 6 sepals divided nearly to the base, segments ovate-oblong, acute, slightly hairy; petals 5 or 6, 5/8 in. long oblong-lanceolate; stamens forming a 20-toothed staminal tube, faintly ribbed outside, anthers sessile, 10, between the teeth. Fruit an ellipsoid-globose drupe, 4-5 seeded.
Etymology:
The generic name "Melia" is derived from the Greek word "Melia," meaning "ash tree." The species name "azedarach" has its roots in Arabic, probably referring to the plant's use in medicine.
Distribution:
It is native to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. It is commonly cultivated as a shade or reforestation tree. It is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds.
Uses:
Medicine: Various traditional medicine. known for their parts of the tree have been used in Leaves and bark extracts are antimicrobial, antiviral, and insecticidal properties. They have been used to treat various ailments like skin diseases, fever, and gastrointestinal disorders.
• Timber: The wood of Bakain-nimb is durable and resistant to termites, making it suitable for various construction purposes, furniture, and agricultural implements.
• Ornamental: The tree is valued for its attractive appearance and is often planted as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks, and along roadsides.
Note: The fruit is highly toxic to warm-blooded animals. Ripe fruits are more toxic than green ones. As little as six fruits have caused nausea, spasms and fatalities in children.
Botanical name:
Melia azedarach L.
Family:
Meliaceae
It is a large tree with a broad crown and straight cylindrical stem. Its branches are almost perpendicular to main stem. the bark is gray, smooth in young trees, rough and longitudinally fissured in old trees. Leaves are glossy green, opposite, simple ovate to elliptical in shape.
Inflorescence in clusters; borne on terminal globose heads; sub-sessile fragrant, orange or yellow flowers. Flowers funnel-shaped, corolla with a narrow tube like Stamens 5, joint with corolla tube.
Etymology
Generic named for Jean Baptiste de Monet Lamarck, French naturalist, whereas
the specific epithet is derived from Sanskrit kadamba, name for this plant.
Distribution
Trees grows best on deep, moist, alluvial sites, often in secondary forests along riverbanks and in the transitional zone between swampy, permanently flooded
and periodically flooded areas. In Maharashtra it is widely distributed over central plains of Marathwada and dry deciduous forests Vidarbha and Western Maharashtra, and moist deciduous forests of Konkan as well.
Propagation:
Through seed & tree coppicing.
Uses:
• Edible: The fruit and inflorescences are reportedly edible. The fresh leaves are fed to
cattle.
• Apiculture: The fragrant orange flowers attracts Honey-bees as pollinators.
• Timber: Stem is used for plywood, light construction, pulp and paper, boxes and
crates, dug-out canoes, and furniture components.
• Tannin or dyestuff: A yellow dye can be obtained from the root bark.
• Ornamental: The tree is grown along avenues, roadsides and villages as an ornamental plant.
• Medicine: The dried bark is used to relieve fever and as a tonic. An extract of the
leaves serves as a mouth gargle.
• Essential oil: Kadamb flowers are an important raw material in the production of
Indian perfumes with sandalwood base.
Cultural importance:
The tree is sacred and is mentioned in the Vedas.
highly regarded religiously and culturally in India being sacred to the Lord Krishna. The tree is
and Krishna are supposed to have
conducted their love play in the hospitable and sweet-scented shade of the Kadamba
The word
Kadamba lends its name to the Kadamba Dynasty which ruled
in what is now the state
from 345 AD to 525 AD. The Kadamba tree was considered a holy tree by the
Kadamba dynasty. Kadambotsava
("The festival of Kadamba") is also the festival that is
celebrated every year by the Gov of karnataka
in honor of the Kadamba kingdom.
Botanical name:
Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser
Family:
Rubiaceae
It is a medium-sized to large, evergreen tree up to 30(–60) m tall; trunk diameter up to 2 (–2.5) m, bole with buttresses; bark surface smooth, flaking off in large thin layers, pale whitish-grey, exuding red resin; crown spreading, with drooping branches; root system shallow, spreading radially. Leaves are sub-opposite, oblong or elliptic oblong, base rounded to cordate, often unequal, apex obtuse or almost acute, glabrous, leathery, margin wavy to coarsely toothed, 2 glands at base, pinnately veined. Inflorescence an axillary spike or small terminal panicle, panicle up to 9(–13) cm long; rachis short, white, short-hairy. Flowers small, yellowish white, fragrant, sessile; at base slightly short-hairy,
expanding into a shallow cup terminating in the sepals; sepals triangular, petals absent. Fruit a winged nut, ovoid-oblong in outline, dark brown to reddish-brown, woody, glabrous, with 5(–7) equal narrow stiff wings, with numerous upwards- curved veins.
Etymology:
The tree's botanical name, genus from the Latin ‘terminus’ means end, referring to the leaves at the end of the shoots. The specific epithet ‘arjuna’ comes from its Sanskrit name Arjuna.
Distribution:
Plant naturally occurs in sub- tropical and tropical moist regions of the country. It is commonly found in riverine forests, along river banks, and in dry deciduous forests across the Indian subcontinent. The tree prefers alluvial loamy or black cotton soils, which are loose, moist, fertile, and have good drainage and water holding capacity. The plant also survives in open sunny and low rainfall areas.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds, and also by root-suckers, stumps and air-layering.
Uses:
• Medicine: The bark has long been used in traditional medicine for various purposes. A decoction of the bark is used to treat heart- related ailments and is known for its cardioprotective properties. It is also used for managing diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal issues. Additionally, the bark is believed to possess astringent and anti- inflammatory properties.
• Timber: The heartwood is moderately heavy and varies in color from light brown to dark red. The timber is valued for its resistance to termites and is used in making furniture, boat- building, and various other applications.
• Ornamental: The majestic appearance makes it a popular choice for ornamental plantings in gardens, parks, and along roadsides.
Cultural importance:
Arjun is one of the sacred tree of India. It has acquired the social and religious sanctity with the passage of time. It is said that Arjuna has been born of the two sons of Kubair after saint Narada cursed him. The leaves and flowers of this tree are offered to the Lord Vishnu and Lord Ganpati on the several religious occasions. It has been used in Ayurvedic formation since ancient times.
Botanical name:
Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) Wight & Arn.
Family:
Combretaceae
Itis a deciduous tree, medium to large-sized, with a straight and cylindrical trunk. The bark is dark brown and rough, with longitudinal fissures. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, with 3 to 5 leaflets, and have a serrated margin. Inflorescence an in leaf-axils panicle, composed of several short spikes with stalkless to nearly stalkless flowers. Flowers are small, white to pale purple, and are borne in axillary racemes. The fruit is a flat pod containing several flattened seeds.
Etymology:
Genus Dalbergia is named after 2 brothers - Carl Gustav Dalberg (1753 - 1775), a Swedish planter and botanical collector for Linnaeus, and Nils E.Dalberg, a Swedish botanist and physician. The species name "sissoo" comes from the local name for the tree.
Distribution:
Native to the Indian subcontinent, it is commonly found in river valleys, plains, and open forests. It prefers fertile, moist, and well-drained soils but can tolerate occasional flooding. It is planted in many areas in Asia and elsewhere in the subtropics and tropics, including Africa where it has been recorded for many countries. It is naturalized or sub- spontaneous in many areas in western and central Asia.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds, stem cuttings, and root cuttings.
Uses:
• Timber: The heartwood of Dalbergia sissoo is highly valued for its durability, making it a popular choice for making furniture, doors, and other wooden items. The timber is
• Medicine: Various parts of the tree, including leaves, bark, and roots, are used in traditional medicine to treat ailments like fever, rheumatism, and digestive disorders.
• Environmental: Due to its rapid growth and ability to thrive in degraded areas, Dalbergia sissoo is used in reforestation and afforestation projects to restore ecosystems and prevent soil erosion.
• Ornamental: Apart from its economic uses, the tree is also cultivated for its ornamental value, adding beauty to gardens, parks, and roadside plantations.
Botanical name:
Dalbergia sissoo DC.
Family:
Fabaceae
It is a fast growing tree that grows to approximately 20 meters in height; tree has grayish-black or ash colored, longitudinally fissured bark. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, clustered near ends of branches; elliptic or elliptic- oblong in shape; pubescent or tomentose when young, at the length glabrous. Flowers creamy-white in axillary dense fascicles; erect at first, afterwards more or less drooping. Berries ovoid with narrow ends, fleshy greenish, yellowish when ripe. Seeds ovoid, smooth, shining brown-black.
Etymology:
Madhuka is the Sanskrit name of the type species. The name indica, modern Latin for “of India,”references the plant's nativity to India
Distribution:
Moha is an Indian tropical tree found largely in the central and north Indian plains and forests. It is adapted to arid environments, being a prominent tree in tropical mixed deciduous forests; thrives well in black, cotton soil.
Propagation:
Through seed.
Uses:
Edible: The flowers are a rich source of sugar containing appreciable amount of vitamins and minerals. “The corollas, collected and dried, form an important article of food both for men and animal in India, and yields by distillation a coarse spirit. The seed yields an inferior oil, largely eaten by tribes”. An oil is even used for soap-making. The wood is used in buildings, piles and sugar mills.
Medicinal: Both the flowers and the oil have long been used in traditional medicine as a cure for a myriad of ills. The oil is taken as a laxative and to cure piles, while the flowers in various forms are used for heart, bronchial and eye problems, to treat TB, asthma, blood diseases, tonsillitis and to get rid of parasitical internal worms. The bark is used to relieve itching, to heal wounds, fractures and snake bites. Both the flowers and the bark are believed to be aphrodisiacs.
Botanical name:
Madhuca indica J.f. Gmel.
Family:
Sapotaceae
It is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree, grows up to 12 m high; blaze greenish-yellow, latex yellow; characterized by smooth greyish bark and a relatively straight stem. The leaves are simple, opposite, and lanceolate in shape, with entire margins, tomentose. Flowers appear in clusters at the end of branches, greenish-yellow and they are fragrant and attractive. Corolla salver shaped, obovate, lobed orange corona scales. Fruit of 2 connate follicular mericarps, cylindrical, subterete, green, sparsely white tubercled, rough, apically beaked; seeds linear, comose at one end.
Etymology:
The botanical name "Wrightia" is named after Dr William Wright (1740 - 1827), who was a Scottish physician and botanist, who was known for his contributions to botanical exploration. The specific epithet "arborea" refers to the tree-like nature of this species.
Distribution:
It is commonly found in low to medium altitudes in open or disturbed habitats, including secondary forests, grasslands, and areas along rivers. It prefers well-drained soils and can withstand occasional flooding but not peat soils. The species is prevalent in dry and moist deciduous forests of Maharashtra and other regions of the Indian subcontinent.
Propagation:
This species can be propagated through seeds, as well as by using branch and root cuttings.
Uses:
• Medicine: The bark is used in traditional medicine as a remedy for various ailments. A decoction of the bark is known to be effective against diarrhoea and abdominal pains. Additionally, a poultice made from the leaves is used to relieve malarial fever and is applied on cracked feet. Preparations from dried leaves are widely used to treat diabetes and urinary problems.
• Timber: The medium-weight stem timber that has pale brown to reddish-brown heartwood. The timber is known for its resistance to termites, making it valuable for various construction and woodworking purposes.
• Ornamental: Due to its attractive flowers and overall appearance, tree is also cultivated for ornamental purposes. The tree is often planted for enhancing the beauty of the landscape.
Botanical name:
Wrightia arborea (Dennst.) Mabb.
Family:
Apocynaceae
A small deciduous tree occasionally reaching about 35 to 40 ft., seldom branching. Leaves decompound, 3 to 5 ft. long, tripinnate, with opposite pinnae, leaflets large, 2.5 to 5 in. by 1.5 to 4 in., egg-shaped or elliptic, tip acuminate, base rounded or
sometimes cordate (heart- shaped), rachis very stout, spotted with raised points (lenticels). Flowers large, arranged on a long, erect peduncle, over- topping the crown of leaves, 2 to 4 ft. long. Calyx 1 in. long, cupped; corolla reaching 4 in. long by about 3 in. across, thick and fleshy, with much wrinkled edges, ill-smelling. Stamens 5, style long with a stigma of two
small leaf-like segments. Fruit a capsule, 1 to 3 ft. long by 2 to 4 in. wide, flat, shoe-like in shape tapering at both ends. Seeds very numerous, 2 to 2.5 in. across, including the papery wing.
Etymology:
Genus ‘Oroxylum’ derived from a combination of two Greek words referring to it as a ‘mountain tree.’ (It is found from sea level to 3,000 ft.) Specific epithet ‘indicum’ means pertaining to India.
Distribution:
Tree occurs throughout the greater part of India and Burma, in the Andamans and Ceylon. In the sub-Himalayan tracts it ascends to about 3,500 ft.
Propagation:
Propagated from seed and also by transplanting the
root-suckers.
Uses:
• Tannin: The bark and fruits are used as a mordant in tanning and dyeing.
• Medicinal: Roots are reported to be used to treat rhumatism, diarrhea and dysentery; Seeds are reported to be used as a purgative. The leaves made into a decoction is reported to be given in stomachache and rheumatism and are used externally for enlarged spleen. Tender fruits are refreshing and stomachic.
• Tetu is one among the ten plants whose roots form ingredients of the widely used Ayurvedic formulation, Dashamoola, which literally means ‘ten roots’.
Note: The flowers appear during the rains. When first open they are a pale green, gradually passing to purples and dirty browns before they fall; very strongly scented—over-powering, but not really unpleasant. They are visited by the smaller fruit bats which are probably the pollinating agents. The fruit remains on the tree till the next hot weather.
Botanical name:
Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz.
Family:
Bignoniaceae
Evergreen trees, grows up to 30 m high, bark dark grey, rough with vertical fissures; blaze yellow; exudation yellowish, gummy. Leaves simple, alternate, clustered at the tips of branchlets, estipulate; petiole stout, glabrous, pulvinate; lamina elliptic, elliptic- lanceolate, linear-oblong, base attenuate or acute, apex acuminate, acute or obtusely acute, margin entire, glabrous, shiny, coriaceous; intercostae reticulate, prominent. Flowers polygamous, yellowish-green, in terminal panicles; pedicels jointed; bract deciduous; calyx 4-5 partite, ovate, imbricate, hairy without, cauducous; petals 4- 5, oblong-obovate, subequal, nerves at base gland crested, free or adnate to the disc; disc fleshy, cupular, 4-5 lobed; stamens 4-5, inserted inside or on the disc, fertile stamens 1 or 2; filaments free, glabrous; staminodes gland-tipped; ovary superior, oblique, 1-celled, ovule pendulous. Fruit a drupe, 5- 15 cm long, oblong-reniform, compressed, yellowish-red, mesocarp fleshy, endocarp fibrous; seed sub-reniform.
Etymology:
The genus name "Mangifera" is derived from the Latin words "mangus" (mango) and "fero" (to bear), reflecting its primary purpose. The species name "indica" signifies its origin in South Asia.
Distribution:
Mangoes were originally found in the foothills of the Himalayas in northeastern India, Burma, and Bangladesh, and were domesticated thousands of years ago, possibly independently in Southeast Asia. Many cultivars in India have been vegetatively propagated for hundreds of
years. Now, however, this tree is grown in most tropical countries and some subtropical ones - it is grown as far north as 35° to 37° N in southern Spain. Very soon after it's discovery, mangoes were brought to Malaysia and other East Asian countries, then to East and West Africa, and finally to the New World.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds or vegetative methods like grafting and budding for desired traits and faster fruiting.
Uses:
• Edible: Mangoes are enjoyed fresh, and their delicious flavor is harnessed in various culinary delights.
• Culinary: They are used in a variety of dishes, beverages, pickles, and desserts.
• Medicinal: Mango leaves have antibacterial properties that help treat bacterial skin infections such as staph Infections and skin burns. Various parts of plant are used as antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, stomachic, vermifuge, tonic, laxative and diuretic and to treat diarrhea, dysentery, anaemia, asthma, bronchitis, cough, leucorrhoea,
haemorrhage and piles.
• Economic: Mango cultivation contributes to the livelihoods of many communities,
generating income and trade.
Symbolic:
The national fruit of India, Philippines and Pakistan, is among the most economically and culturally important tropical fruits, especially in Asia. Amba is also State tree and fruit of Maharashtra.
Cultural importance:
Its cultural significance spans various societies, where it holds the cherished title of "king of fruits." Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, this iconic tree not only provides delicious fruits but also contributes to cultural traditions, livelihoods, and the environment.
Ecological importance:
Fruit bats, flies, wasps, wild bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, ants and thrips have been observed to visit mango flowers.
Botanical name:
Mangifera indica L.
Family:
Anacardiaceae
A small to medium-sized tree with heart-shaped leaves and a spreading crown. Its bark, initially smooth and light gray, develops shallow fissures as it matures. Pinkish-white flowers in clusters emerge from leaf axils or branch tips, emitting a subtle fragrance that attracts pollinators. The distinctive spiky fruit capsules contain numerous vibrant red to orange annatto-coated seeds.
Etymology:
The genus name "Bixa" is derived from the indigenous name for the plant, while the species name "orellana" honors Francisco de Orellana, a Spanish explorer.
Distribution:
Native to tropical regions of Central and South America, but now cultivated in various tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Tolerant of poor soils but intolerant of shades.
Propagation:
Propagation is primarily through seeds.
Uses:
Natural Dye: The seeds' Shendri coating is used as a natural dye, giving a yellow to orange color to foods, textiles, and cosmetics.
• Culinary: Shendri is also used as a spice for its mild, peppery flavor and color enhancement in various dishes.
• Medicine: Some traditional medicinal uses are reported, although further research is needed.
• Cosmetics: Shendri is used in cosmetics and body products for its color and skin benefits.
Botanical name:
Bixa orellana L.
Family:
Bixaceae
Large deciduous tree grows up to 10-20 m high, with smooth grey bark. Leaves paripinnate; petioles and rachis terete, pubescent; leaflets 2-4 pairs, opposite or nearly so, usually very obtuse, entire, glabrous, base rounded or tapering; lateral nerves 12-20 pairs with reticulate veins between. Tender leaves reddish in color. Flowers white or yellowish, fascicled, on interrupted often branched racemes, which are axillary or below the leaves, often several on short branchlets. Fruit size of a small plum, pointed, often echinate with stout rather blunt prickles. Seeds 1 or 2, enclosed in a pulpy aril;
testa smooth, brown.
Etymology:
The commemorative name, after J. C. Schleicher (1768-1834), a Swiss Botanist." The specific epithet is derived from the Latin “oleum”, referring to oil.
Distribution:
Koshimb is seen in semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests, in dry, mixed deciduous forest, savannah and also in the plains. Found at elevations from sea level to about 980 metres.
Propagation:
Through seeds.
Uses:
• Edible: Young leaves and shoots - raw, cooked in soups or steamed and served with rice. Fruits are edible, which has a pleasant acid taste. Unripe fruits are pickled.
• Medicinal: The oil obtained from the seeds has been
employed for the cure of itch. The bark is astringent and is used against leprotic ruptures, skin inflammations and ulcers.
• Lac: The tree is known for its Kusumi-Lac, which is produced on it being the most highly prized quality.
• Timber: The wood is hard and durable.
Ecological importance: Fruits edible also by Monkeys and by Spotted Deer. Elephants feed on the leaves. Honey bees forage on the flowers. Tree is also a larval host plant for many butterfly species.
Botanical name:
Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken
Family:
Sapindaceae
A medium sized trees, grow up to 18 m high, bark greyish-brown; brittle or semi fibrous; blaze creamy yellow; branchlets lenticellate. Leaves abruptly pinnate; leaflets opposite, 2-3 pairs, ovate-oblong or obovate-oblong, glabrous above, softly tomentose beneath, rounded or emarginate at the apex. Flowers are greenish-white, in terminal, rusty tomentose panicles, shorter than the leaves, bisexual flowers few. Petals 5, white. Disk concave. Stamens 8; filaments villous. Drupes 2-3-lobed, 2-3-seeded. Seeds blackish, smooth. Berries of both the trees are used as a substitute for soap.
Etymology:
Name derived from Greek work Sapo means soap, Indus = from India. Indian soap-nut plant. Specific epithet ‘trifoliatus’ tri-(three) + foliātus (leaved).
Distribution:
It is commonly found in Semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, also in the plains, hilly regions, forests, and scrublands. Native to the Indian subcontinent. Very tolerant of a wide range of well-drained soils, including those that are dry, stony and nutrient deficient.
Propagation:
Propagation is primarily through seeds and sometimes with green-wood cuttings.
Uses:
• Soap: The saponin-rich pulp of the fruit is traditionally used as a natural soap for washing clothes and cleaning purposes.
• Medicine: Various parts of the tree, including the bark, leaves, and fruit, have medicinal properties in traditional medicine systems.
• Timber: The wood is hard. It is used for making various small articles.
• Other Uses: The tree is used for agroforestry and has potential for reforestation due to its adaptability to hilly areas.
Botanical name:
Sapindus trifoliatus L.
Family:
Sapindaceae
It is a slow-growing, evergreen trees, grows 10-20m tall; bark blackish-grey, longitudinally fissured and cracked, rough; blaze crimson red; exudation milky; bole straight. Leaves alternate, often closely clustered at the end of branchlets, with conspicuous scars; petiole 0.8–2 cm; leaf blade obovate to obovate-elliptic, 5–10 by 3–7 cm, glabrous, base broadly cuneate to obtuse, apex retuse; midrib raised abaxially, lateral veins slender, parallel, veinlets dense. Flowers axillary, fascicled. Pedicel thick, 1–1.8 cm. Sepals ovate-triangular, 3–4 mm, outside yellowish-grey tomentose. Corolla white or light yellow, 4 mm; lobes oblong, 3 mm. Stamens 5 mm; staminodes 2-parted, lobes linear, 3 mm. Ovary ovoid, 2 mm, 6-locular, tomentose. Fruit a berry, ellipsoid, 1.5 x 8 mm, reddish-yellow; seed usually one.
Etymology:
The genus name "Manilkara" is derived from a native name in the Guiana region, while the species name "hexandra" means "six-stamened," referring to the number of stamens in the flowers.
Distribution:
It is found in a variety of habitats, including evergreen forests, tropical rainforests, in scrub jungles and occasional in plains from the coast. Peninsula, NE India, Sri Lanka, Indo- China.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds.
Uses:
Edible fruit: The ripe fruit tastes similar to sapota. It is eaten either fresh or dried.
• Timber: The wood is highly valued for its strength, durability, and termite resistance. It is used for construction, furniture, and boat building.
• Medicine: Different parts of the tree, including the bark and leaves, have traditional medicinal uses in treating various ailments. Khirni fruit is a significant source of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, sugar, calcium, iron, phosphorus and vitamins like vitamins A, B and C are also present.
• Rootstock: Khirni saplings are often used as a rootstock for the Chikoo (Manilkara sapota Van Roy.) in India.
Botanical name:
Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dub.
Family:
Sapotaceae
Shrub or small tree; bark smooth, pale purplish, branches drooping, pubescent or glabrous. Leaves ovate, elliptic-oblong or elliptic, 10-20 x 5-10 cm, base obtuse, rounded or acute, rarely unequal, acute or acuminate at the apex or sinuate, membranous, sub- coriaceous with 10-16 pairs of lateral nerves, glabrous or somewhat pubescent beneath, dark green above, paler beneath, sub-sessile or sessile, petiole 2 mm long. Inflorescence a terminal, corymbose, many flowered cymes, 7-15 cm across, pedicel variable in length, upto 1.25 cm long, bracts small, linear, acute, pubescent or ciliate, 2.5 cm long. Flower white or creamy 2.5-5 cm across, puberulous. Calyx 2-3.5 mm long, divided nearly to the base, lobes unequal, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, pubescent ciliate. Corolla tube selender, puberulous outside, hairy within, 8- 12 mm long, lobes equalling the tube, oblong, rounded, overlapping to the right in bud. Style short, stigma oblong. Follicle, 20-40 x 0.5-1 cm, pendulous, glabrous, often slightly curved and dotted. Seeds 1.25 cm long, linear oblong, light brown.
Etymology:
The genus name derived from Greek word ‘holos’ = entire; ‘arrhen’ = male; alluding to the included anthers (enclosed in the flower tube). Specific epithet from the Latin pubescens meaning ‘downy’ with short soft hairs.
Distribution:
It occurs in dry evergreen to dry deciduous forest, scrub woodland, savanna, or in rocky localities, often near watercourses, up to 1500 m altitude. It is a pioneer species that quickly invades open spaces.
Propagation:
The plant is primarily propagated through seeds. Vegetative propagation through stem cuttings is also possible.
Uses:
Medicine: Different parts of plant, including the bark, leaves, and roots, have been used in traditional medicine to treat ailments like fever, dysentery, and skin diseases.
• Insecticidal: Plant extracts have shown insecticidal properties and are used in some regions to control pests.
• Timber: The wood is used for making agricultural tools and small wooden articles.
Note:
The seeds or bark of Pandhra kuda are sometimes adulterated with those of Kala Kuda (Wrightia tinctoria R.Br.), which do not have the same medicinal properties, although both show antibacterial activity. The seeds ofPandhra Kudaare intensely bitter, while those ofKala Kuda are tasteless.
Botanical name:
Holorrhena pubescens Wall. ex G.Don.
Family:
Apocynaceae
An deciduous tree, grows up to 15 m tall; bark greyish brown; branchlets, petioles, and inflorescences densely yellow-brown tomentose. Branchlets slightly 4- angled when young, becoming terete, lenticellate, leaf scars prominent. Petiole terete, 3.5–10 cm; leaf blade broadly ovate, 8–19 × 4.5–15 cm, thickly papery, base broadly cuneate to sub-cordate, apex acuminate; veins 3–5 pairs, abaxially prominent. Inflorescences terminal, narrow thyrses; peduncle 15–30 cm. Calyx 3–5 mm, with several
black discoid gland patches; teeth 5, sharply triangular. Corolla yellow, 3–4 cm, 2-lipped, sparsely glandular; lower lip 3-lobed, outside yellowish brown puberulent, inside glabrous; upper lip entire or slightly 2-cleft. Ovary glabrous, glandular. Stigma unequally 2-cleft. Drupes yellow when ripe and black when dry, ellipsoid to obovoid-ellipsoid, 1.5–2 cm.
Etymology:
Genus Gmelina is named after Johann Georg Gmelin (1709-1755), a German professor of botany of Tubingen University. Species arborea means tree-liked and branched.
Distribution:
It is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, including countries like India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Commonly seen in the moist, dry or deciduous areas close to grasslands and rivers.
Hills above 350-900m. It has also been introduced and cultivated in various other parts of the world for its timber and medicinal properties.
Propagation:
It can be propagated using seeds or stem cuttings for germination, or through methods like air layering and tissue culture to rapidly produce new plants.
Uses:
Ornamental: Flowers are used in floral arrangements. Tree used in landscaping and gardens.
Craft: Wood can be used for making tool handles
Botanical name:
Gmelina arborea Roxb. ex Sm.
Family:
Verbenaceae
It is a deciduous tree with a moderately smooth bark. The leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and bear 2-6 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet being oblong or elliptical. Flowers are small, numerous, and arranged in dense clusters, emitting a sweet fragrance. The petals are small, whitish-yellow, and the stamens are prominent and numerous. Pod 10-30 cm long, reddish brown, thin, shining, hairy when young, shortly stalked. Seeds 8-12.
Etymology:
The name "Albizia" honors the Italian nobleman Filippo del Albizzi, who was a patron of botany. The species name "odoratissima" refers to the delightful fragrance emitted by its flowers.
Distribution:
This species is typically found in various
habitats, including deciduous forests, grasslands, and along riverbanks. It prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate occasional flooding.
Propagation:
Propagation is typically done through seeds.
Uses:
• Medicine: The bark is used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. It is known for its antimicrobial properties and is used to manage skin diseases and wounds. Additionally, the bark decoction is employed as a remedy for fever and abdominal issues.
• Timber: The wood of this tree is medium-weight and exhibits colors ranging from pale brown to reddish-brown. It is highly resistant to termite attacks, making it valuable for certain construction purposes.
• Ornamental: Tree is cultivated for its ornamental value. Its fragrant
flowers and attractive foliage make it a popular choice as an ornamental tree in gardens and along roadsides.
Botanical name:
Albizia odoratissima (L.f.) Benth.
Family:
Mimosaceae
It is a very fast-growing tree of slender proportions, reaching 25 to 40 ft in height, with spreading, nearly horizontal branches. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, lanceolate or oblong, long-pointed at the apex, oblique at the base. Flowers are borne in clusters; with 5 green sepals and 5 white petals and many prominent yellow stamens last only one day, the petals falling in the afternoon. Flowers
resemble strawberry bloom, hence the name of the tree. The abundant fruits are round, wide,
with red or sometimes yellow, smooth, thin, tender skin and light-brown, soft, juicy pulp, with very sweet, musky, juicy, flavor, filled with exceedingly minute, yellowish seeds.
Etymology:
The genus "Muntingia" was named in honor of Abraham Munting, a 17th-century Dutch botanist and horticulturist. The specific epithet "calabura" is derived from the Spanish name for the tree, which refers to the calabash-like shape of its fruit.
Distribution:
Due to its introduction and naturalization, it is now found in various tropical and subtropical regions around the world. It grows in a wide range of habitats, including disturbed areas, roadsides, forest edges, and gardens.
Propagation:
The tree is easily propagated through seeds, which germinate quickly. It can also be propagated through stem cuttings.
Uses:
• Fruit: The sweet, edible fruits are enjoyed fresh or used to make jams, jellies, and beverages. In some regions, the fruit is called "Jamaican Cherry" due to its cherry-like appearance and taste.
• Medicine: In traditional medicine, various parts of
the plant are used for medicinal purposes. The leaves and bark are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and are used in poultices for treating
wounds.
• Ornamental: Tree is cultivated for its attractive appearance, featuring delicate white flowers and colorful fruits, making it an excellent ornamental tree for gardens and landscapes.
• Shade and Shelter: Due to its fast growth and broad crown, the tree provides shade and shelter to various creatures, including birds and small animals.
• Livestock Feed: In some areas, the fallen fruits are collected and used as fodder for livestock.
Botanical name:
Muntingia calabura L.
Family:
Muntingiaceae
It is a tall, slender, evergreen tree. The bark is grayish-white, corky, and smooth. Leaves are compound, arranged in opposite pairs, with 3-6 leaflets, each leaflet lanceolate with serrated margins. Flowers are fragrant, borne in large, terminal panicles, with funnel-shaped corollas. Petals are white, while the throat is pale yellow, creating a striking contrast. Stamens are long and exserted.
Etymology:
The tree was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of Thomas Millington, a British botanist, and physician. The specific epithet 'hortensis' refers to its horticultural significance.
Distribution:
It is commonly found in gardens, parks, and cultivated landscapes across its native range. It is not typically found in the wild but is widely cultivated for its ornamental value.
Propagation:
The tree is propagated through seeds; root suckers and it can also be grown from softwood cuttings.
Uses:
• Ornamental: It is highly valued for its ornamental beauty.
Its fragrant flowers and attractive appearance make it a popular choice for landscaping and as an avenue tree.
• Medicine: Some traditional medicinal uses are associated with this tree, but it is not widely used in traditional medicine systems.
Botanical name:
Millingtonia hortensis L.f.
Family:
Bignoniaceae
It is a deciduous or semi-deciduous medium to large-sized tree; bark blackish, rough; branches spreading or pendulous, zigzag, slender, glabrous. with a smooth bark. The leaves are alternate, compound, and have a characteristic feathery appearance. Inflorescence a lateral or terminal raceme, flowered; peduncle short; bracts and bracteoles linear. Flower buds obovoid, puberulent, apex protruding. Petals yellowish-white, subequal, oblanceolate, sub-sessile. Fertile stamens 10, unequal. Ovary stalked, glabrous; stigma sub-sessile, small. Fruit linear-cylindric, 15–20 cm; valves woody, glabrous. Seeds 12–20, dark brownish, ellipsoid.
Etymology:
The name Bauhinia in commemoration of two Botanist brothers John Bauhin and Casper Bauhin of 16th century; the two half’s of leaves are didymous. The specific epithet 'racemosa' refers to the arrangement of flowers in racemes.
Distribution:
The tree is commonly found in a variety of habitats, including open forests, scrublands, grasslands, and along water bodies. It prefers well- drained soil and can tolerate a range of altitudes.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds, and it can also be propagated by branch and root cuttings.
Uses:
• Medicine: Different parts of the tree, such as the leaves, flowers, and bark, are used in traditional medicine. The bark is used for treating diarrhoea and skin diseases, while the flowers are believed to have medicinal properties for various ailments.
• Timber: The wood of Aapta is moderately heavy and strong. It is used in various applications, including construction, furniture- making, and for fuel.
Cultural importance:
In Hindu families it is customary to exchange leaves of the Aapta tree on the Hindu festive day of Dussehra. An act known as exchanging Gold—pointing to the special significance of the plant on that particular day. This is also why the tree is often referred to as Sonpatta (literal translation: leaves of gold).
Botanical name:
Bauhinia racemosa Lam.
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
It is an evergreen to deciduous medium-sized tree with a straight trunk. The bark is smooth and greyish-brown in color. The leaves are alternate, compound, pinnate, and glaucous, giving a bluish tint. Each leaflet is lanceolate or elliptic with entire margins. Flowers are small, greenish-yellow, and borne in panicles or clusters. The fruits are small, round drupes, initially green but turning yellow when ripe. The tree produces abundant fruit.
Etymology:
The term Simaba is in reference to the Simaroubaceae family and comes from the Caribbean language. The specific epithet "glauca" refers to the glaucous, shiny leaves.
Distribution:
Originally native to tropical regions of Central and South America. The tree is well suited for warm, humid, tropical regions. Its cultivation depends on rainfall distribution, water holding capacity of the soil and sub-soil moisture. It has been introduced to various countries worldwide, including parts of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds. It may also be propagated by vegetative means, such as stem cuttings or root cuttings.
Uses:
• Medicine: Various parts of Laxmitaru have been used in traditional medicine. The bark and leaves are known to possess medicinal properties, and decoctions are prepared to treat ailments like fever, diarrhoea, and stomach troubles.
• Biofuel: The seeds yield an oil that can be used as a biofuel. The oil content of the seeds makes them a potential source of renewable energy.
• Timber: The wood is moderately hard, durable, and resistant to termites. It is used for construction, furniture, and various woodworking purposes.
• Agroforestry: Due to its fast growth and ability to tolerate a variety of conditions, Laxmitaru is cultivated for agroforestry purposes. It can provide shade for crops and help in soil conservation.
Botanical name:
Simarouba glauca DC.
Family:
Simaroubaceae
It is a tree, up to 25 m (- 35 m) tall, and trunk can reach up to 0.6 m diameter. It has a round and spreading crown. The bark is grey and thinly flaky. It is mostly evergreen, but can be deciduous during long dry season. The leaves are compound, odd-pinnate (imparipinnate). They can be in opposite arrangement or in whorls of 3 – 4. Each leaf comprises of 7–11 leaflets which are elliptic to oblong shaped (about 20 cm long). Each leaflet has 7–9 lateral veins and sometimes may have rough hairs on both sides. The margins can be entire or distally toothed (serrate). Inflorescence occurs on the terminal ends of the branches, it is a branched cluster (panicle). Each panicle contains 6–12 flowers which are showy with deep red to purple petals. Flower bloom in the evening, lasting only for a night and is reported to be unpleasantly scented. The fruit is sausage shaped; they are woody, greyish brown when ripe and can remain on the tree for up to a year. The seeds are only released after the fruit has fallen off and decayed. Each fruit contains many seeds which are hard and oval shaped
Etymology:
The genus Kigelia comes from its native Mozambique vernacular name, kigeli keia. Latin africana, refers to Africa, the place where it occurs.
Distribution:
It is native to the African continent, distributed in sub-Saharan regions. It thrives in a variety of habitats, from riverbanks and floodplains to woodlands and savannas.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds. Seeds should be planted fresh, as they lose viability quickly.
Uses:
• Medicine: Various parts of the Sausage are widely used in traditional African medicine. The bark, fruit, and leaves possess medicinal properties and are used to treat a variety of ailments. Preparations from the bark and leaves are used for treating skin conditions, wounds, and as a general antiseptic. The fruit pulp is applied topically to treat skin disorders, rheumatism, and snakebites.
• Ornamental: Due to its striking appearance and unique fruit, tree is also cultivated for ornamental purposes in gardens and parks.
• Cosmetic uses: The fruit of Sausage tree is sometimes used as a cosmetic ingredient, especially in skin creams and lotions. There are some steroid chemicals found in the sausage tree that are currently added to commercially available shampoos and facial creams.
Timber: The hard and durable wood of the tree is occasionally used in local carpentry and as fuel.
Botanical name:
Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.
Family:
Bignoniaceae
It is a deciduous tree, reaching a moderate size. The bark surface is smooth, often greyish-brown in color, flaking off in rounded thick scales, blaze red; branchlets, terete. The leaves are simple, arranged alternate; stipules present, linear in shape; elliptic, sub-orbicular, obovate or acute, apex round, retuse or apiculate, margin entire, glabrous, glaucous beneath, chartaceous. Flowers are small and inconspicuous, often greenish-yellow in color; in glomerules borne on main leafy branches and short lateral branchlets; the male 3-5 flowered; females upto 3 flowers. Fruit a capsule, sub-globose or wide oblong, truncate at apex, shallowly 3 lobed and 3-angled, glossy, glabrous, black or dark brown when dry; seeds 3, globose, black.
Etymology:
The botanical name "Cleistanthus" is derived from the Greek words "kleistos," meaning closed, and "anthos," meaning flower, referring to the flower bud's enclosed nature. The specific epithet "collinus" means growing on hills, indicating its habitat preference.
Distribution:
It is found in a variety of habitats, ranging from moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests, and scrublands to grasslands. It prefers well-drained soils and is often found on hillsides.
Propagation:
Seed, air layering and stem cutting.
Uses:
• Toxicity: It is infamous for its extreme toxicity. The plant contains potent cardiac glycosides, which can be deadly if ingested. It is often referred to as the "suicide tree" due to its history of being used in intentional poisoning cases.
• Medicinal: Despite its toxicity, the plant has been used in
traditional medicine to treat certain ailments. However, its medicinal use is highly discouraged due to the risk of poisoning.
Botanical name:
Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.) Benth ex Hk.f.
Family:
Phyllanthaceae
A small tree, up to about 7-8m tall. Trunk has brownish grey bark that becomes increasingly fissured with age, and has upright branches. Leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate to elliptical, about 7 x 2cm long, and texture is smooth and leathery. Young leaves have a silky texture, and may be pinkish
or red; the leaves emits a citrus fragrance
when crushed. Distinctive red inflorescences, in the form of “brushes” (hence the common names), in which the “bristles” are actually stamens. The apical
buds continue to grow leafy sections, resulting in the branches to appear to alternate between leafy and floral sections. Fruit is capsule small sessile woody, clustered around the stems. Each capsule contains numerous tiny seeds.
Etymology:
The term Ficus is the classical Latin name of the fig. The specific epithet rumphii honours theGerman-born Dutch naturalist Georg Eberhard Rumphius(1628–1702), who served first as a military officer with the Dutch East India Company in Ambon.
Distribution:
It is Small to medium-sized tree, up to 15mheight under cultivation. Crown dense and rounded. Solitary for standalone trees, massively caudiciform (swollen), with network of clasping aerial roots that eventually thicken to form pillar roots. Sturdy trunk with a smooth bark surface, grey-greenish colored, shallowly-cracked. The leaves are alternate, simple, and have an entire margin. Receptacles sessile or subsessile, Figs axillary on leafy branchlets, in small clusters, with dark spots when young, dark purple when mature usually in axillary pairs, globose, smooth, white or with spots, black when ripe.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through its seeds and air layering.
Uses:
• Medicine: In traditional medicine, various parts of the tree may have been used for medicinal purposes, but the specific uses and preparations would
require detailed local knowledge and documentation.
• Ecological Importance: Like many fig species, Payar likely plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by providing food and shelter for various wildlife, including birds, bats, and insects.
• Ornamental: Planted for its beautiful ornamental foliage, Bonsai, Shade and avenue tree.
Botanical name:
Ficus rumphii Blume
Family:
Moraceae
It is a large deciduous tree with a straight trunk and a spreading crown. The bark is rough and greyish-brown in color. The reddish young leaves with the flower clusters look very attractive; leaves are alternate, simple, and lanceolate with entire margins. Flowers are small, fragrant, and arranged in dense inflorescences called panicles. Petals are usually 6, creamy-white, and slightly fleshy. Stamens are numerous, and the ovary is usually single- celled with several ovules. Fruit are fleshy, green berries, quite large and containing from one to four shiny, brown seeds.
Etymology:
The name "Madhuca" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Madhu," which means honey, referring to the sweet, edible flowers of the tree. The name "longifolia" denotes the long leaves.
Distribution:
The tree is commonly found in lowland and hilly regions, particularly in dry and moist deciduous forests. It prefers well-drained soils and can withstand occasional flooding. The tree is able to resist some frost. Requires a sunny position. Prefers a deep loamy or sandy- loam soil with good drainage. It also occurs on shallow bouldery, clayey and calcareous soils. Established plants are drought resistant.
Propagation:
It can be propagated through seeds. It is also possible to propagate the tree
through
stem cuttings.
Uses:
• Food: The flowers of the Mahua tree are highly prized for their sweet nectar, which is used to produce a traditional alcoholic drink. The flowers are also used to make a nutritious food supplement known as "Mahua flowers."
• Medicine: Various parts of the tree, including the bark, leaves, and flowers, are used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The bark is used as an astringent, while the flowers are considered beneficial for skin diseases and respiratory disorders.
• Timber: The timber of Madhuca longifolia is valued for its strength and durability. It is commonly used for making furniture, agricultural implements, and various construction purposes.
• Industrial Uses: The tree is a valuable source of vegetable oil, known as "Mahua oil," which is used in the manufacture of soap, lubricants, and cosmetics.
Botanical name:
Madhuca longifolia (Roxb.) Chev.
Family:
Sapotaceae
It is a large, deciduous tree with a spreading crown. The bark is greyish-brown and has a rough texture. The Leaves are simple, alternate, estipulate, clustered at the tips of branchlets; obovate, oblong-obovate, base cuneate or attenuate and decurrent on petiole, apex round or shortly acuminate, margin crenate-serrate, glabrous, membranous; lateral nerves 10-12 pairs, prominent, intercostae reticulate, prominent. Flowers are small and greenish-yellow, with five petals and borne in terminal panicles. The fruit is large, round to oval, and woody, containing multiple seeds.
Etymology:
The name, Careya, was given by the famous British botanist William Roxburgh in honor of Dr. William Carey, an English missionary and botanist and the specific epithet, arborea, indicates its tree-like nature.
Distribution:
Careya arborea is found in a variety of habitats, from dry deciduous forests to moist deciduous forests and grasslands. It is commonly found in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and
Bangladesh.
Propagation:
The tree can be propagated through seeds, which germinate readily. Propagation through stem cuttings has also been attempted with some success.
Uses:
• Medicine: The bark, leaves, and fruits are used in traditional medicine. A decoction of the bark is used to treat various ailments, including diarrhoea, dysentery, and skin diseases. The leaves are used as a poultice to alleviate fever, and preparations from dried leaves are used for medicinal purposes.
• Timber: The wood is durable and termite-resistant, making it suitable for various construction purposes and making tools.
Precaution: The seeds are slightly poisonous.
Botanical name:
Careya arborea Roxb.
Family:
Lecythidaceae
A small or large tree, glabrous except the young parts and the inflorescence. Stem glabrous and become corky at age. Leaves alternate, 2-pinnate (very rarely 3); the primary rhachis thickened at the base and as well as the secondary articulated, and with a gland at the articulations; leaflets 4-6 pairs and an odd one, broadly elliptic or sub-orbicular, obtuse at both the ends, often retuse at the apex, of variable size. Flowers in panicles. Calyx thinly tomentose; segments white, oblong, reflexed. Petals yellowish-white, veined with red, oblong or oblong-spathulate. Pods linear, 30 – 45 cm long, sharply 3- angled, long pointed, valves hard, 10 – 18 seeded. Seeds white or pale yellow, 3-angled, angles winged; wings very thin, hyaline.
Etymology:
The genus name is derived from murungai, the Tamil word for drumstick; the
specific epithet ‘concanenis’ means native to Konkan.
Distribution:
Distributed in many tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Mainly found in Western Ghats & Eastern Ghats, dry and deciduous Forests regions.
Propagation:
Through seed and root suckers.
Uses:
Medicinal: Entire plant parts used to cure inflammation, cardiovascular, gastro-
intestinal disorders.
The seed protein can be utilized after value addition, used for water purifying and also a good source of non-desiccating oil.
• Food: The unripe fruits are eaten by native communities.
Botanical name:
Moringa concanensis Nimmo.
Family:
Moringaceae
A slow-growing, small, handsome, evergreen, erect tree with a smooth grey- brown bark. The branchlets are spreading draped over by clusters of orange-red flowers. Leaves alternate, shiny, deep-green are foot-long; each have four, five or six pairs of long, wavy-edged, leaflets. Young leaves are soft, red and limp and remain pendent even after attaining full size. Flowers pinned closely on to every branch and twig, these clusters consist of numerous, small, long-tubed flowers which open out into four oval lobes. Yellow when young, they become orange then crimson with age and from the effect of the sun's rays. From a ring at the top of each tube spread several long, half-white, half-crimson, stamens which give an hairy appearance to the flower clusters. Pods flat, leathery, enclosed 4-8 seeds, ellipsoid- oblong.
Etymology:
Saraca from the Indian (Sanskrit) vernacular word for this plant and asoca derived from Sanskrit asoka (without grief or sorrow).
Distribution:
Tree found wild along streams or in shade of the evergreen forests and also planted in gardens as an ornamental.
Propagation:
Through seeds.
Uses:
Medicinal: The juice obtained from boiling the bark in water is a cure for some ailments of women, and a pulp of the blossoms is one of the remedies used for dysentery. Its stem bark is used to prepare Ashokarishta, an Ayurvedic tonic for menstruation related problems in women. aves possess blood purifying properties. Flowers used in dysentery
and diabetes.
Cultural importance:
Ashoka is one of the most legendary and sacred trees of India, and one of the most fascinating flowers in the Indian range of flower essences.
It is believed that Sakyamuni, the founder of the Buddhist religion and doctrine of Nirvana was born under an Asoka tree in the 6th Century B.C. The tree is worshipped by all Buddhists.
Hindus and they revere it as the symbol of love. It is dedicated to Kama Deva the god of love, who included an Asoka blossom among the five flowers in his quiver. Its stem bark is used to prepare Ashokarishta, an Ayurvedic tonic for menstruation related problems in women.
Sita, wife of Rama, when abducted by the evil Ravana, was kept in a garden among groves of Asoka trees. On Ashok-Shasthi day, women from Bengal eat the flower buds, while Hindu ladies believe that by drinking the water in which flowers have lain, they will protect their children from worry and grief.
There is a quaint Indian belief that trees will flower only in places where a woman’s foot has trod and another which asserts that a tree will bloom more vigorously if kicked by a young lady. The ashoka tree is closely associated with the Mast tree Yakshi. The sculpture of a Yakshi with her foot on the trunk and her hands holding the branch of a flowering Ashoka tree is an ancient symbol of fertility.
Note:
Common name often get confused with False Ashoka (Polyalthia longifolia Thw.,). This tree can easily be distinguished by its tall habit, simple leaves and very different flowers and fruits than Ashoka.
Botanical name:
Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde
Family:
Caesalpiniaceae
A deciduous shrub or small tree, sometimes found in forest fringe as escape. Branchlets pubescent, 4-angled. shortly acuminate, distantly toothed or entire, coriaceous, scabrid, base rounded, cuneate or acute, densely pubescent beneath. The sweet scented flowers are small, attractive with white petals and an orange-red tube in center and bloom profusely, opening at night and drop off in the morning, thus making a carpet of flowers in the morning. Fruits is a capsules,
obcordate or nearly orbicular, compressed.
Etymology:
Nyctus = night, antos = flowers. Refers to its Night-blooming flowers. The Latin specific epithetarbor-tristismeans "sad tree", because the foliage becomes droopy as blooming flowers fall off during early morning.
Distribution:
Parijat is found from Indo- China, Himalaya and Sumatera to Jawa. It grows in dry deciduous
forests and hillsides.obcordate or nearly orbicular, compressed.
Propagation:
Propagated through seeds & air layering.
Symbolic:
The flower of Parijat is the official state flower of West Bengal and is called shefali or shiuli. The native people of Tripura use the plant to help predict weather and rainfall.
Uses:
• Food: Flowers are eaten as vegetable either as fresh or as
dried one. The taste is pleasant bitter. Leaves are used in making curry.
• Medicine: Flowers are said to be anthelminthic & aphrodisiac. Leaves are also used to treat skin diseases. Two spoonful of the juice of leaves is administered orally along with honey or ginger juice against the cold and cough. Plant's roots are used to treat emaciation, while its stem bark is used to treat diarrhoea, palate ulcers, and internal injuries.
• Ornamental: Parijat is cultivated in gardens and parks for its beautiful aromatic flowers.
• Dye: The flowers yield orange color dye.
Cultural Importance:
Parijat plant holds a very important place in Hindu beliefs. In Hindu scriptures, it has been kept in the category of very auspicious and sacred tree. Parijat tree was planted in heaven by Lord Indra and Lord Krishna brought Parijat to earth for Goddess Satyabhama (wife of Lord Krishna) from heaven. Flowers are considered sacred and symbols of purity, hence they are very pleasing to the deities.
Botanical name:
Nyctanthesarbor-tristisL.
Family:
Oleaceae