Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

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Family : FABACEAE/LEGUMINOSAE (Subfam.: Papilionoideae)

Synonym : Butea frondosa Koenig ex Roxb.

Common Names : Brahmavriksham, Chamatha, Mukkappuyam, Plasu, Palasinsamatha, Flame of the forest, Bastard teak, Bengal kino tree

Flowering Period : March – April

Distribution : Tropical Asia

Habitat : Dry and moist deciduous forests, also grown in the plains

Uses : Tannin source, dye yielding, fire wood, anti-helminthic. A powerful astringent, it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and wounds. Nitrogen fixing, wind break, culturally significant, green manure, timber implements. The seeds contain around 18% oil called 'moodoga oil’, it is an effective treatment for hookworms.

Key Characters :

Flame of the forest is deciduous trees with bark grey to greyish-brown and exudation red. Leaves trifoliate, alternate; margin entire. Flowers bisexual, bright red; petals 5; stamens 9 + 1; stigma small. Fruit a pod, oblong, the base flat, wing-like; seed obovate, compressed.