Millettia peguensis

Millettia peguensis
Tree in Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Millettia
Species:	M. peguensis
Binomial name
Millettia peguensis Ali
Synonyms
Pongamia ovalifolia Millettia ovalifolia

Millettia peguensis, the Moulmein rosewood (Bengali: তূমা Tuma), is a legume tree species in the genus Millettia. It is native to Lower Burma and Siam. This is a relatively rare tree as compared to pongam (Pongamia pinnata) that is very similar looking, but more common in India. Pongam has white flowers while the Milletia flowers are bright pink. Pongam has more elongated tip to leaves, while those of M. peguensis are more oval. The plant is a food source for the Jamides bochus caterpillar.

No medicinal or other uses are reported for this plant but the common name Moulmein rosewood suggests that its timber is probably hard, heavy and as useful as some of other rosewoods. The tree is easily propagated in Delhi but it is not very well known in other tropical countries.

Millettia peguensis with pink-purple small flower in March 2020. Ramna Park, Dhaka

External links

• Media related to Millettia peguensis at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Millettia peguensis at Wikispecies
• Millettia peguensis on www.efloras.org
• Millettia peguensis on www.flowersofindia.net