Butea monosperma

Butea monosperma
	In Bangalore, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Butea
Species:	B. monosperma
Binomial name
	Butea monosperma; (Lam.) Taub.

Butea monosperma (syn. Butea frondosa, Erythrina monosperma, Plaso monosperma; Kinshuk, Palash, Dhak, Flame of the Forest, Bastard Teak or Parrot Tree), 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] Also known as kesudo in 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.

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.

Other names

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

References

^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Butea monosperma
^ 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.