Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze
| Kannada Name : | Muttuga, Palasha |
| Common Name : | Flame of the forest, Bastard teak |
| Family Name : | Fabaceae |
| Scientific Name : | Butea monosperma |
| Species Type : | Indigenous |
| Phenology : | Deciduous |
| Conservation Status : | Not known |
| Flowering Period : | February - April |
| Fruiting Period : | April - May |
| Origin : | Indian Subcontinent |
Uses
It is used for timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and dye. 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.
Description
Small to medium, deciduous tree, 10– 20 m tall, bark greyish black. Leaves are pinnately trifoliate, leaflets unequal, terminal leaflet obovate, lateral leaflets narrowly ovate, leathery with obtuse or emarginate apex, stipules small and deciduous. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal raceme, flowers bisexual, bright orange- red, silky pubescent outside. Fruit is a pod 10– 20 cm long, seed reddish brown.
