Thursday, June 13, 2024

Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.

 

Family: Fabaceae

Synonym: Acacia cinerea (L.) Spreng., Cailliea cinerea (L.) J.F.Macbr.

Vernacular name: Vedathala, Veeravriksham, Vidatthal, Vitattal

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Dry deciduous forests

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Java, Africa, Australia

Flowering and Fruiting: October-January

Key identification features: Small thorny trees; bark grey or brownish, Leaves bipinnate, alternate, stipulate; Flowers polygamous, in solitary or axillary paired spikes; upper flowers bisexual, yellow; lower ones neutar, pink or purple. Fruit a pod, linear, flat, coiled, continuous within, indehiscent or opening from apex; seeds 4-6, ovoid, compressed.

Uses: Wood is very hard and rough and a good fuel. The flowers can be a valuable source of honey. The leaves are used to treat epilepsy.




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