Adenanthera pavonina L.

മഞ്ചാടിമരം

Family : Leguminosae (Mimosoideae)

Synonym : Adenanthera gersenii Scheff.

Common Names : Manjadi, Red bead tree, Circassian tree

Flowering Period : January – September

Distribution : Sri Lanka, North East India, Myanmar, and China

Habitat : Occurring in sacred grooves and low land areas

Uses : Ornamental, anti-inflammatory. A red powder made from the wood is also used as an antiseptic paste. In ancient Indian medicine, the ground seeds are used to treat boils and inflammations. A decoction of the leaves is used to treat gout and rheumatism.

Key Characters :
Red bead tree is a deciduous tree with grey to reddish-brown bark. Leaves simple bipinnate, alternate. Leaflets with entire margin. Flowers- bisexual, pale yellow; petals 5. Stamens 10, free. Ovary subsessile and flat. Style filiform with simple stigma. Fruit a pod, spirally coiled after dehiscence. Seeds are glossy and red in colour.