| BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small to medium-sized evergreen tree reaching up to 25 m in height. It has a short and often fluted bole and thin dark grey bark. USES A red pigment obtained from the fruits are used to dye silk and wood. he dye also has medicinal properties. The seeds are a source of a drying oil used in cosmetics and to treat parasite infections on the skin. The wood can be used as fuel and the leaves as animal fodder. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. The tree grows slowly and often does not attain a trunk diameter of 15 cm after 15 years in India. COMMON NAMES Kamala, Monkey face tree, Kapasan, Banato, Hpawng-awn, Kaai kat hin, Rum noa. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: Croton philippense, Rottlara tinctoria. Kamala has a distribution ranging fron western Himalaya, India, South East Asia, Southern China, through to Australia. It can be found at elevations up to nearly 1700 m. It is drought resistant. In the wild state, it is commonly found in evergreen forests but occurs also in shrub and on open rocky land. It is frequently the pioneer tree in secondary forests in India where eventually sal becomes dominant. |
