Butea monosperma

Butea monosperma
	In Bangalore, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae;
Division:	Magnoliophyta;
Class:	Magnoliopsida;
Order:	Fabales;
Family:	Fabaceae;
Subfamily:	Faboideae;
Tribe:	Phaseoleae;
Genus:	Butea;
Species:	B. monosperma;
Binomial name
	Butea monosperma; (Lam.) Taub., 1894
Synonyms
	Butea frondosa Roxb. ex Willd.; Erythrina monosperma Lam.; Plaso monosperma

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a flower in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Butea monosperma is a species of Butea native to tropical southern Asia, from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia.^[1] Common names include Kingshuk, Palash, Dhak, Flame of the Forest, Bastard Teak, Parrot Tree and Kesudo (Gujurati).

It is a medium sized dry season-deciduous tree, growing to 15 m tall. The leaves are pinnate, with an 8-16 cm petiole and three leaflets, each leaflet 10-20 cm long. The flowers are 2.5 cm long, bright orange-red, and produced in racemes up to 15 cm long. The fruit is a pod 15-20 cm long and 4-5 cm broad.^[2]

It is used for timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and dye. The gum from the tree, called kamarkas in Hindi, is used in certain food dishes. The gum is also known as Bengal Kino, and is considered valuable by druggists because of its astringent qualities, and by leather workers because of its tannin. ^[3] The wood is dirty white and soft and, being durable under water, is used for well-curbs and water scoops. Good charcoal can be made from it.

In West Bengal it is associated with Spring (season), especially through the poems and songs of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who likened its bright orange flame-like flower to fire. In Santiniketan, where Tagore lived, this flower has become an indispensable part of the celebration of spring. The plant has lent its name to the town of Palashi, famous for the historic Battle of Plassey fought there.

It is said that the tree is a form of Agnidev, God of Fire. It was a punishment given to Him by Goddess Parvati for disturbing Her and Lord Shiva's privacy.

In the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh these flowers are specially used in the worship of Lord Shiva on occasion of Shivratri. In Telugu this tree is called Modugu chettu.

In Kerala this is called 'plasu' and 'chamata'. Chamata is the vernacular version of Sanskrit word 'Samidha', small piece of wood that use for 'agnihotra' or fire ritual. In most of the old namboodiri (Kerala brahmin) houses one can find this tree because this is widely use for their fire ritual.

[edit] Other names

Flame of the Forest | Bastard Teak, Parrot Tree (Eng.), Chichra tesu, desuka jhad, dhak, palas, chalcha, kankrei (Hindi), Palashpapra (Urdu), Muthuga (Can.), Kinshuk, Polash, Polashi (Beng.), Pauk (Burmese), Polash (Polax) in Assamese, Porasum, Parasu (Tam.), Muriku, Shamata (Mal.), Modugu (Telugu), Khakda (Guj.), Kela (Sinh.)^[3]

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2006-05-18. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?8177. Retrieved 2009-10-24.
^ Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
^ ^a ^b Cowen, D. V. (1984). Flowering Trees and Shrubs in India, Sixth Edition. Bombay: THACKER and Co. Ltd.. p. 3.

[edit] Gallery

trunk in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	trunk in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	leaves in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	leaf in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
flowers on ground in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	flowers in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.	flowering tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.It is a flowering-plant.
young leaves in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.		young leaves in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.