Adenanthera pavonina L.
| Kannada Name : | Aane gulaganji, Manjuti |
| Common Name : | Red bead tree |
| Family Name : | Fabaceae |
| Scientific Name : | Adenanthera pavonina |
| Species Type : | Exotic |
| Phenology : | Deciduous |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | March - June |
| Fruiting Period : | May - August |
| Origin : | China |
Uses
This tree is used for making soap and a red dye can be obtained from the wood. The wood, which is extremely hard, is also used in boat-building, making furniture and for firewood. A decoction of the young leaves and bark is used to treat diarrhoea. Also, the ground seeds are used to treat inflammation.
Description
Medium to large deciduous tree, up to 15m tall. Leaves bipinnate, oval-oblong, with an asymmetric base and blunt apex, dull green on topside and blue-green underside. Flowers borne in narrow spike-like racemes at branch ends, small, creamy yellow, fragrant; each flower star shaped with 5 petals. Pods long and narrow, with slight constrictions between seeds, dark brown, turning black upon ripening, leathery, curve and twist upon dehiscence to reveal 8-12 hard-coated, showy, lens shaped, vivid scarlet seeds.
