21/03/2017
FB-003
: Tree Details
Name : Butea Monosperma
Name : Kesudo
Name : Dhak, Palash, Tesu
: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
: Native to India A Crooked, unarmed native tree capable of reaching 14 meters Flame of the Forest is a medium sized tree.
: The compound Leaves with 3 large, leathery leaflets from a patchy, open crown. Clusters of fiery orange blossome on leafless branches in March are unmistakable.The leaves are pinnate, with an 8-16 cm petiole and three leaflets, each leaflet 10-20 cm long. Leaves shed in February-March, starting near the top of the tree. New leaf in late April. Starting pale green and densely grey-silky on their under surface, the leaflet, growing from a longer stalk, widens gradually, becoming as broad as it is long. The side leaflets widen asymmetrically from their bases.
in cluster near the top of the tree. The velvety buds appear black but are actually deeply bronzed. The flower is typically pea-like a large standard petal
dominates two narrower wings on either side. Two more petals join together to form a claw-like keel. The petals are fiery orange and smooth on the inside and are
covered with fine, silky hairs outside.
These flowers, which are scentless, are massed along the ends of the stalks--dark velvety green like the cup-shaped calices--and the brilliance of the stiff, bright
flowers is shown off to perfection by this deep, contrasting colour. Each flower consists of five petals comprising one standard, two smaller wings and a very curved
beak-shaped keel. It is this keel which gives it the name of Parrot Tree.
In olden days, the flowers of Tesu were used to make color for the festival of .
A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal Department to commemorate this flower.
a flat pod. For a structure designed to house only a single seed, the pods are unusually large. Pale grey-green at first, velventy and strongly marked with
nerves, they grow to about 20 cm, gradually turning straw coloured and papery, when they are scattered by summer breezes.
light brown or ashy, fibrous, more or less rough with shallow cracks. When cut or bruised, a ruby red latex oozes from the trunk and hardens into a gum.
: Kesudo is the host tree most used to rear lac-insects, producing a quality shellac known as ‘rangini’. The ruby-red gum called ‘Bengalkino’ along with the
seed oil and flowers, has medicinal uses. Young leaves are eaten by buffaloes and elephants but not by goats. An extensive rural cottage industry is based on the
stitching together of dhak leaves as plates.
The timber is not durable except under water and is used for well-curbs and scoops. Keshdo is sometimes planted to reclaim saline land where little else will grow.
