| BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small to medium-sized deciduous tree reaching 5-20 m in height with an open crown, trifoliate leaves and a profusion of bright orange, rarely sulphureous flowers and 9-24 cm long pods. The trunk is usually crooked with rough greyish-brown bark. USES A dye is extracted from the flowers and used for dyeing silk and sometimes also cotton. A gum is obtained from the bark and used as dye or tannin. Both the gum and the seeds have medicinal properties. Fibres from the inner bark is used for cordage, for caulking the seams og boats and for making paper. The tree can be used as host for lac insects. The wood is not considered of great value, but it is sometimes used for utensils, constructions and firewood. Leaves are used as fodder for cattle. The tree can also be planted as an ornamental and it can be used for recaiming saline soils. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. COMMON NAMES Flame-of-the-forest, Palasa, Plasa, Pouk-pen, Chaa, Chaan, Thong kwaao, Tong thamma-chaat, Drak, Palas, Kakria, Chalcha, Muttuga, Paras, Parasu, Modugu, Pauk. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: B. frondosa. Flame-of-the-forest occurs in India and South-East Asia and has been introduced in Africa. It grows naturally in open grasslands and scattered in mixed forest. In the Himalayas it is found up to 1200 m in elevation, while in the drier parts of Java it can be found up to 1500 m. |
Lemmens R 1991 pp 56-57 [USE, SAL, DRA, KTMP, TEXT, FER, PH]
Troup R 1921 pp 257-264 [USE, SAL, DRA, TEXT, KTMP, TEMP, RAIN, LIG] |
