Libidibia ferrea (Mart. ex Tul.) L.P.Queiroz
| Kannada Name : | - |
| Common Name : | Brazilian ironwood, Leopard tree |
| Family Name : | Fabaceae |
| Scientific Name : | Libidibia ferrea |
| Species Type : | Exotic |
| Phenology : | Evergreen |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | May - July |
| Fruiting Period : | None |
| Origin : | Brazil, Bolivia |
Uses
The roots and stem bark are used in the treatment of diabetes. The roots are astringent and febrifuge. A decoction of the wood is anticatarrhal and vulnerary.
Description
Medium-sized evergreen tree, 8-15 m tall. Crown umbrella shaped, flat topped. Bark smooth, light grey to ivory, peely, mottled with brown or dark grey. Leaves bipinnately, pinnae 5 to11, leaflets 8-24 per pinna; leaflets opposite, linear-oblong or elliptical, pubescent, base obtuse or subattenuate, apex obtuse, margin entire. Inflorescence a terminal raceme. Flowers bisexual, fragrant, yellow, odd petal spotted red. Fruit a indehiscent pod, woody, elliptic-oblong, compressed, 5-7 cm long.
