THE BUTEA MONOSPERMA TREE
Context: Flame of the forest’ now in bloom across Nilgiris.
About Butea monosperma tree :
- The flowers are bright orange with a unique petal shape, hence called 'flame of the forest.'
- The trees are distinct as they wear more flowers than leaves.
- It is a small-sized dry-season deciduous tree, native to tropical and sub-tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia, ranging across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and western Indonesia.
- It is used for timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and dye.
- The wood is dirty white and soft. Being durable under water, it is used for well-curbs and water scoops.
- Spoons and ladles made of this tree are used in various Hindu rituals to pour ghee into the fire.
- Good charcoal can be obtained from it.
- The leaves are usually very leathery and not eaten by cattle. The leaves were used by earlier generations of people to serve food where plastic plates would be used today.
- The gum is known as Bengal Kino and is considered valuable by druggists because of its astringent qualities and by leather workers because of its tannin.