Month: June 2024

Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken

English Name: Ceylon oak/ Lac tree

Family:  Sapindaceae

Origin and distribution 

Kusum is a native of tropical Asian countries and is distributed throughout the foothills of Himalaya. These plants succeed in tropical and subtropical areas, usually al low elevations but sometimes at up to 1,200 metres above sea level. In Nepal, it is reported from 150m to 950m.

Description

Height at maturity: Kusum tree is a rather slow-growing, briefly deciduous tree that can reach a height of 35 metres.  The bole, which is usually crooked and slightly buttressed, can be up to 2 metres in diameter, but is usually less. 

Form: Kusum is medium to large size deciduous tree. It is a beautiful tree with a broad, shady crown.

Flower and flowering: Male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seeds are required. Flowers are tiny, occurring in short dense yellow clusters. The flowers are hardly noticeable. The fruit is about the size of a small plum.

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 – 42°c, but can tolerate 10 – 47°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -4°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 – 2,300mm, but tolerates 750 – 2,800mm. It also succeeds in full sun and also in light shade.

Soil: Plants are tolerant of a range of soil types, so long as they are well drained, but grow best on deep, rich, acid soils that are rich in organic matter. It grows on rather dry to occasionally swampy locations on various, often rocky, gravelly or loamy, well drained, preferable slightly acid soil. It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 – 6.5, tolerating 5 – 7.8.

Propagation and plantation 

Plant propagation is done directly by seed sowing thoroughly prepared soil. It is a fire resistant tree. 

Products and uses  

Young leaves and shoots – raw, cooked in soups or steamed and served with rice. The ripe fruit is eaten raw. Powdered seeds are applied to wounds and ulcers of cattle to remove maggots. The bark is astringent and is used against leprotic ruptures, skin inflammations and ulcers, while an infusion is taken against malaria. The bark contains about 10% tannin and the analgesic compound lupeo. n traditional medicine, the oil obtained from the seed is applied externally to cure itching, acne, and other skin afflictions. Massaging the oil into the scalp is said to promote the growth of hair lost through baldness.

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

Its handsome crown structure makes this species an ideal plant for urban plantation. The plant contains low tannin levels therefore, it can be used as fodder for livestock.

Other readings:

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-04-23.

Meshram, N., Ojha, M., Singh, A., Alexander, A., & Sharma, M. (2015). Significance and traditional medicinal properties of Schleichera oleosa. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 5(1), 61-64.

 

(Cinnamomum tamala)

English name: Bayleaf

Family: Lauraceae

Origin and distribution 

A pan-Himalayan and South-East Asian element: distributed in tropical and subtropical Himalayas from Indus valley (Pakistan), Kashmir (India), Nepal, Sikkim (India), Bhutan and Myanmar. Distributed throughout Nepal between 450−2100 min evergreen broad-leaved forests.

Description

Height at maturity: upto 7 – 10 m height, sometimes reaching upto 15m.

Form: A small to medium sized slender evergreen tree. It is a good coppice species.

Flower and flowering: Flowers minute, yellowish; Fruits black, succulent, slender, ovoid 12 mm. Flowering occurs in April − June, and fruiting in June−September. Flowering and fruiting time has been found different (even twice a year) that depends on micro-climate and ecological zone. Seeds collected from April –May. 

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: Widely cultivated and domesticated. Young plants benefit from some shade, but older trees do well in full sun.

Soil: Prefers a fertile, sandy, moisture-retentive but freely draining soil in full sun or partial shade. The growth is slow on poor soil. 

Propagation and plantation 

The seed of Cinnamomum species generally has a short viability (recalcitrant nature) and is best sown as soon as it is ripe.  Fruit pulps can inhibit germination thus they are removed as soon as possible by soaking in normal water and rub gently, clean seeds should be sown in nursery bed or directly in poly puts immediately after few hours drying in shade. and seeds are soaked in lukewarm water for 24 hours to expedite the germination process. Germination percentage ranged from 25% (six months old seeds) to 50% (fresh seeds). It can also propagated by small branches cutting.

There are 2000-4000 processed seeds in one kg. The seeds germinated generally within 2−3weeks in moderate temperature (around 20°C). The seedlings of 10 cm high are transplanted to permanent positions. 

Plantation should be done just before the rainy season. High Nitrogen content fertilizer can be added once in a year, and mulching is needed in the winter to keep the soil moist, in the first year of plantation.

Products and uses  

Leaf (tejpat) and bark (dalchini) have medicinal value and is an integral part of Nepalese and Indian cuisine as spices. The oil has several commercial uses: to manufacture confectionaries, pharmaceuticals, ayurvedic products, as flavouring agents, perfumes, and toiletry soaps.

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

It can be planted in the pocket park and manageable sites in urban and agroforestry plots. Cultivation is preferred along the edges of cultivated field.

Other readings

Choudhary, D., Kala, S., Todaria, N., Dasgupta, S., &Kollmair, M. (2013). Marketing of bay leaf in Nepal and Northern India: Lessons for improving terms of participation of small farmers in markets. Small-Scale Forestry, 12(2), 289-305.Parajuli, D. P. (1998). Cultivation of Cinnamomum tamala in marginal lands for greater income at Palpa district. Bankojanakari, 8(1), 24-32.

(Moringa oleifera Lam.)

English name: Drumstick tree/ Horseradish Tree

Family: Moringaceae

Origin and distribution It Moringa oleifera is indigenous in northern India and Pakistan. It has been introduced throughout the tropics and subtropics and has become naturalized in many African countries. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical lower belts of Nepal.

Description

Height at maturity: It is a small, graceful, deciduous shrub or small tree with a wide, umbrella-shaped, open crown and sparse foliage, often resembling a leguminous species at a distance. The tree grows to about 8 metres tall and base of 60cm in diameter. with e and can be 60cm in diameter. Young trees raised from seed start flowering after 1-2 years.

Form: It has a crooked bole that is often forked from near the base. The plant has a good coppicing ability.

Flower and flowering:  The flowers are fragrant and hermaphroditic, surrounded by five unequal, thinly veined, yellowish-white petals. The flowers are about 1.0–1.5 cm (1/2 in) long and 2.0 cm (3/4 in) broad. They grow on slender, hairy stalks in spreading or drooping flower clusters, which have a length of 10–25 cm. In seasonally cool regions, flowering only occurs once a year between April and June. In more constant seasonal temperatures and with constant rainfall, flowering can happen twice or even all year-round.

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: Horseradish tree succeeds in warm temperate to tropical areas and can be found at elevations from sea-level to about 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 – 35°c, but can tolerate 7 – 48°c.  The plant is quite cold hardy and is not harmed by light frosts, but it can be killed back to ground level by a freeze. It quickly sends out new growth from the trunk when cut, or from the ground when frozen. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 – 2,200mm, but tolerates 400 – 2,600mm

Soil: It can easily grow in a well-drained soil in a sunny position, tolerating a wide range of soil types.  It grows best on fertile and well drained sandy soil, clay or clay loam but is in general suitable for light, medium and heavy soils though it will not withstand salinity. It has a special tolerance to shallow soil and is tolerant of low fertility. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 – 7, tolerating 5 – 8.5

Propagation and plantation 

Seed – can be sown either directly, in containers or in a nursery seedbed, preferably with around 50% shade. No seed pre-treatment is required and seeds sprout readily in 1 – 2 weeks. Plants can be ready for planting out within 3 months of germination. Plants raised from seed produce fruit of unpredictable quality. Germination rates for fresh seeds are around 80%, going down to about 50% after 12 months storage, but no seeds survive 2 years of storage. Stem cuttings are usually preferred because they root easily. 

Products and uses  

It can be used as cash crop. Young leaves, flowers, and shoots are raw or cooked as salad or vegetable.  Bean-like pods are used in soups and curries, or made into pickle. The horseradish tree is a nutritious, diuretic, laxative herb that is expectorant, increases milk flow, controls bacterial infections and is rubefacient when applied topically. It contains a potent antibiotic.

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

Hedge plantation provides protection against wind, shade and support for climbing garden plants. Widely used for live fences and hedges in many areas. Stakes root easily and are stable, and cuttings planted in lines are used particularly around houses and gardens. Because its shade can be controlled well Moringa oleifera is suitable for planting in alley cropping and in vegetable gardens. When trees reach 1.5 metres, farmers prune them (at 50cm from the ground or at ground level for older ones) once or twice a year. In alley cropping, an intra-row spacing of 2 metres is used. In the wet season cereals are grown between the lines, in the dry season vegetables.

Other readings

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-04-21

Thapa, K., Poudel, M., & Adhikari, P. (2019). Moringa oleifera: A review article on nutritional properties and its prospect in the context of Nepal. Acta Sci. Agric, 3, 47-54.

(Phyllanthus emblica)

English name: Gooseberry/Indian gooseberry

Family: Phyllanthaceae

Origin and distribution 

Amala is native to China, Taiwan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and south-eastern Asia (i.e. Cambodia, Laos, northern Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia). It occurs from tropical as well as sub-tropical regions to 1500 meters elevation. This tree is previously known as Emblica officinalis.

Description

Height at maturity: It is a moderate-sized deciduous plant species that grows from 10-15m and sometimes up to 25m. The tree is rather slow-growing and usually only bears fruit when 6 – 8 years old. 

Form: This tree has light green feathery foliage. The bark is grey, smooth and peels off in irregular patches as it gets older. The bole, which is often crooked and gnarled, is up to 35cm in diameter. While actually deciduous, shedding its branch lets as well as its leaves. 

Flower and flowering: Flowers unisexual, 2-3 mm across, greenish-yellow, densely clustered in leaf axils. Flowering season from March-April and fruit is depressed-globose drupe, fleshy, and indehiscent. 

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 – 29°c, but can tolerate 14 – 35°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 – 2,500mm, but tolerates 700 – 4,200mm

Soil: Amala is a very easily grown plant, reported to thrive in regions that are too dry and on soil that is too poor for most other fruit crops. It requires a position in full sun or part day shade, but is undemanding as to soil requirements so long as it is well-drained.

Propagation and plantation 

Seed does not store well and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. The seed is taken from over-ripe fruits, which are sun dried to facilitate removal of the stone, or are cut in half right through the stone. The extracted seeds are given the float test and 100% of those that sink will germinate. In 4 months, seedlings will have a stem diameter of 8 mm and can be budded or grafted if required.

Semi-hardwood cuttings, collected from the middle portions of vigorous shoots of young trees and planted in beds at a temperature of about 33°c, produce a high percentage of rooting, up to 84%. It can also be propagated from stem cuttings, layering and grafting. There are 34,000 seeds per kg with at least 12 months viability. 

Products and uses  

The barks, as well as the roots, leaves and immature fruits, are highly valued as a source of tannins. The bark of shoots less than 5 cm in diameter is used to obtain good tannin. Fruits are used in making pickles and are rich source of vitamin C. 

Urban/Agro-forestry uses 

Adding lopped branches for green manure is said to correct excessively alkaline soils. The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland – it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats.

Other readings

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-04-21.

Kunwar, R. M., & Bussmann, R. W. (2009). Medicinal plants and quantitative ethnomedicine: a case study from Baitadi and Darchula districts, far west Nepal. Journal of Natural History Museum, 24(1), 72-81.

Albizia procera(Roxb.) Benth.
English name: White siris / Silver Bark Rain Tree
Family: Fabaceae

(Albizzia procera)

English name: White siris

Family: Mimosaceae

Origin and distribution White siris is native to moist deciduous and semi-evergreen hill forests, swamp forests, and lowland savanna woodlands in Asia from northern India through south-east Asia. It is a fast-growing deciduous tree that generally reaches 10 to 20 m in height and has a straight to somewhat curved stem, smoothies light brown to light greenish gray bark, and a spreading thin crown. In Nepal it is found from 650 to 1350 meters.

Description

Height at maturity: up to 10-15 m height, sometimes reaching up to 20m.

Form: Medium sized deciduous tree with short trunk and a low, spreading crown.  It coppices very well. 

Flower and flowering: Flowering generally occurs during the rainy season. The distinctly fragrant (suggesting molasses) flowers form whitish globose heads 20 to 24 mm in diameter, borne on racemes 8 to 25 cm long near the ends of twigs. The fruits are flattened pods 10 to 20 cm long and 1.8 to 2.5 cm broad, changing from green to deep red or reddish brown on maturity; each contains 6 to 12 seeds. The fruits ripen 6 to 9 months after flowering, during the dry season, and usually remain on the tree until the whole twig bearing the pods is shed.

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: These are cultivated in agro-forest land and along with tea plantation area. The trees are important source of Nitrogen fixation and Mycorrhizal association that aids soil nutrition. 

Soil: Prefers a fertile, loamy, moisture-retentive but freely draining soil in full sun or partial shade. It grows best on very moist, alluvial sites of well-drained loams or clays but can tolerate shallow, dry, stony, and sandy soils.

Propagation and plantation 

The seeds are obtained from seed pods during May and June. The seeds are spot sown in May in an open position. Germination takes approximately 5 days. The seedlings are planted after only 2 months in nursery. The plants require soil from a mature tree added to the soil mixture at the rate 1:20 (5%) to ensure mycorrhiza establishment. The seed can also be sown directly into prepared pits: seedlings will grow up to 1m in the first year.

There are 20,000 seeds per kg. The seeds germinate 70% when fresh and down to 9% after 10 years of storage. Viability of seed is up to 10 years if stored with insecticide because it is very susceptible to weevil infestation. 

Plantation should be done just before the rainy season. Mulching and micorrhizal soil is required for good vigour of plantings. 

Products and uses  

 The timber is used mainly for wheels, house-posts, rice-pounders and agricultural implements. The wood makes very good charcoal. The bark is used for tanning, and from it a gum can be extracted. In some places the bark is pounded up, mixed up with flour and eaten in times of famine. 

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

It can be planted in the pocket park and manageable sites in urban and agroforestry plots. Cultivation is preferred along the edges of cultivated field.

Other readings 

Pachuau, L., Lalhlenmawia, H., & Mazumder, B. (2012). Characteristics and composition of Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth gum. Industrial Crops and Products, 40, 90-95.

(Azadirachta indica)

English name: Neem

Family: Melicaceae

Origin and distribution 

Neem is likely native to the Indian subcontinent and to dry areas throughout South Asia. It is wide spread in India and extends to Barma. A subspecies is indigenous in Thailand . It is of great value as an avenue tree in dry and arid places . It also grows in area with a high rain fall. 

It is can be found in every village of Terai. It has been introduced to parts of Africa, the Caribbean, and numerous counties in South and Central America. It is recorded from the Terai to about 900 m but doubtfully  indigenous to Nepal as it has often planted.

The plant has long been used in Ayurvedic and folk medicine and is used in cosmetics and in organic farming applications.

Description

Height at maturity: It is a large size ever green tree of Terai. It has a large spreading crown. It can grow about 15 meters tall with occasional specimens up to 25 meters. Leaves alternate, pinnate; leaflet toothed. 

Form: Neem is a medium to large fast-growing and long-lived evergreen tree with a wide-spreading, dense, ovoid crown. Trees coppice freely, and early growth from coppice is faster than growth from seedlings. 

Flower and flowering: Flower white about 8 mm in diameter, fruit flashy. Trees may start flowering and fruiting at the age of 4 – 5 years, but economic quantities of seed are produced only after 10 – 12 years

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: Neem is a very tough tree and is said to grow almost anywhere in the lowland tropics and subtropics. It is cultivated at elevations up to 1,500 metres, but grows best when below 700 – 800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 26 – 40°c, but can tolerate 14 – 46°c. Mature plants tolerate some frost, but seedlings are more sensitive. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 450 – 1,200mm, but tolerates 200 – 2,000mm.

Soil: It prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny position. Tolerates poor soils and is drought tolerant once established. The plant quickly dies in waterlogged soils, and does not succeed in deep dry sands where the dry-season water table lies below 18 metre

Propagation and plantation 

Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe, it does not require pre-treatment, though depulping and cleaning of seeds considerably improves the germination rate. The seed can be sown in a nursery seedbed, direct in situ or in containers, covering the seed with about 1cm of compost. Mature seeds germinate within a week, with a germination percentage of 75 – 90%. Seedlings can be potted up when they are about 5cm tall. It can also be propagated by air-layering and root cuttings.

Products and uses  

The fruits are eaten fresh or cooked, or prepared as a dessert or lemonade-type drink. Leaf teas are traditionally used to treat malaria, peptic ulcers and intestinal worms. The leaf juice is applied externally to ulcers, wounds, boils and eczema. 

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

Being drought resistant with a well-developed root system capable of extracting nutrient from the lower soil levels, it is a suitable tree for dune-fixation. The large crown makes it an effective shade tree, planted widely as an avenue tree in towns and villages and along roads in many tropical countries. Because of its low branching, it is a valuable asset for use as a windbreak. 

Other readings

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-04-21

(Alstonia scholaris)

English name: Devil tree 

Family: Apocynaceae

Origin and distribution 

It is found in tropical regions of E. Asia – China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia. Indonesia, Philippines to Australia and the Solomon Isles. In Nepal, it is found in Tropical and sub-tropical belts of Terai region.

Description

Height at maturity: Alstonia scholaris is a medium to large tree, to about 40 m high with a somewhat tessellated corky grey to grey-white bark. The boles of larger trees are strongly fluted to 10 m. 

Form: The trees are often deciduous, losing their leaves for brief periods at irregular intervals. The tree coppice freely with a short coppice rotation of 6 – 8 years.

Flower and flowering: Trees only flower after marked periods of dry weather. When in flower, they are often surrounded by pollinating bees and butterflies. The fruits open on the tree and the seeds, which have a tuft of silky hairs at each end, are dispersed by wind.

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: They best thrive in moist lowland tropical and subtropical areas, it is found at elevations from sea level to around 900 metres. It grows best in areas that have a mean annual temperature in the range 12 – 32°c, and a mean annual rainfall of 1,200 – 1,400 mm. It grows most commonly in monsoonal areas where the mean annual rainfall can range between 1,000 – 3,800mm

Soil: It prefers a sunny position in a fertile, moist, but well-drained soil. Plants are tolerant of a range of soils, and have been grown successfully on shallow soils over coral, where it is only a small tree.

Propagation and plantation 

Regeneration can be enhanced by enrichment planting using the strip system, but sufficient opening of the canopy is essential for optimal growth of the seedlings. Seeds are best sown in a sunny position. The germination rate of fresh seeds is high, nearly 100%, with sprouting commencing after 12 days and continuing for about 3 months. Seeds can be stored in closed tins for 2 months, maintaining a germination rate of 90%. The seeds are difficult to collect because the fruits open while still on the tree. A. scholaris has been grafted for vegetative reproduction. 

Products and uses  

The latex provides a good quality chewing gum while bark yields fibre and flowers produce an essential oil. The bark is a bitter, astringent, alterative herb that lowers fevers, relaxes spasms, stimulates lactation and expels intestinal worms. It is anthelmintic, anticholeric, antispasmodic, astringent, emmenagogue, febrifuge, tonic and vulnerary. 

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

The tree is often exploited for its valuable timber, and is considered to be a good timber tree in moist, protected environments. It is also often planted for its ornamental and shade value. 

Other readings

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-04-21.

Baliga, M. S. (2010). Alstonia scholaris Linn R Br in the treatment and prevention of cancer: past, present, and future. Integrative cancer therapies, 9(3), 261-269.

(Cassia fistula L.)

English name: Golden shower flower/Indian Laburnum 

Family: Fabaceae

 Origin and distribution 

It is a moderate-sized tree with an open crown, and although deciduous it is never quite leafless. It is common in E. Asia – Indian subcontinent. It has been naturalized in other areas of the tropics, including east Africa. Habitat consists of dry semi-deciduous forest at lower altitudes and open forest and grassland. 

In Nepal it occurs at lower altitudes, from terai up to about 1200 meters. The leaves are compound and between 30-60cm long. They are divided into 4 and 6 pairs of quite large oval shaped leaflets.

Description

Height at maturity: It can grow 10 – 15 metres tall. The bole can be 40 – 50cm in diameter

Form: Golden shower is a small, slow-growing deciduous or semi-deciduous tree with a rather narrow crown in some reports, but spreading according to others.

Flower and flowering: The flowers are bright yellow which appears between April or May. The flowers are large and attractive. The fruits are present in cylindrical pods. At the beginning of flowering, the whole crown is covered with flowers; sporadic flowering continues for up to 3 months.

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: Plants succeed in the dry to moist tropics and sub-tropics, growing in areas where the annual rainfall is in the range 500 – 2,700 mm and the average annual temperatures is 18 – 29°c. The plants are slow-growing and generally take 8 – 10 years from sowing to flowering. This period can be reduced by vegetative propagation

Soil: This plant prefers a deep, well-drained, moderately fertile sandy loam and a position in full sun. It seems to favour calcareous and red, volcanic soils, but is also found on sandy and loamy soils with a pH of 5.5 – 8.7. Tolerates some shade. Established plants are fairly drought resistant

Propagation and plantation 

Propagation is done by seed. The seeds have a hard seed coat and germination is improved by mechanical scarification or treatment with concentrated sulphuric acid for at least 45 minutes. Pre-soaking for 12 – 24 hours in warm water can also be tried. The seed should be sown in full light, and adequate water supply is required for optimal germination – the seed can increase three times in weight by absorbing water. Germination takes place within a few days. Direct sowing is practised in Asia. Seed can be stored for prolonged periods without loss of viability. It can also be propagated by cuttings of half ripe wood

Products and uses  

The woods are used in building, carts, fence posts, and agricultural implements. The seed pods bear laxative substance that has various medicinal values. The timber can be used for excellent charcoal and wood extracts in making various medicines such as the bark is used for tanning and dyeing.

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

Suitable for use as a pioneer, the tree can be planted for the restoration of degraded lands and restoration of woodland. Since it is not palatable to domestic animals, it may be suitable for the reforestation of areas which have become overgrazed. 

Other readings

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2021-04-21.

Satyal, P., Dosoky, N. S., Poudel, A., & Setzer, W. N. (2012). Essential oil constituents and their biological activities from the leaves of Cassia fistula growing in Nepal. Open Access Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 3(2), 1.

(Delonix regia)

English Name: Flame tree/Flame of forest

Family: Fabaceae

Origin and distribution Delonix regia is endemic to the Madagascar’s dry deciduous forests, but has been introduced into tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide. In the wild it is endangered, but it is widely cultivated elsewhere and is regarded as naturalised in many of the locations where it is grown.  It has been planted throughout the world; North America, South America, Australia, Europe, Asia. It can be found in terai, Siwaliks, and dune valleys upto elevations of 1000 meters throughout Nepal.

 

Description

Height at maturity: The tree grows 10 – 18 metros tall, with a large, buttressed bole that can attain a girth of up to 2 meters. 

Form: Delonix regia is a fast-growing tree with an umbrella shaped, spreading crown with the long, nearly horizontal branches forming a diameter that is wider than the tree’s height. Usually evergreen, the trees are deciduous in areas where the dry season is long and pronounced

Flower and flowering: Trees starts flowering in their 4th or 5th years in April-June.

Silvicultural Characteristics 

Cultivation: It grows in areas where the mean annual temperature ranges from 14 – 26°c, and the mean annual rainfall is over 700 mm. It can succeed in areas with both high and scanty rainfall. Trees can grow at higher altitudes than recommended, but flowering becomes erratic. There are some concerns that the plant might become invasive in some of the areas where it is cultivate.

Soil: The tree demands light and grows weakly and sparsely under shade. The species seems to tolerate many types of soils from clay to sandy, but it prefers sandy soils.  It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 – 6.5, tolerating 4.5 – 7.5. Established plants are very drought tolerant. The trees have shallow root systems and the wood is weak; they are therefore liable to being uprooted during strong storms and broken by strong winds, and so are best planted in sheltered positions. 

Propagation and plantation 

Seed has a hard, woody testa and takes a long time to germinate. It may lie for 2 – 3 years in the soil without germinating and usually take 12 – 349 days to germinate. To break this dormancy the seed needs to be scarified by carefully abrading a small part of the seed coat, being careful not to damage the embryo. Alternatively, pour a small quantity of almost boiling water over the seed, making sure it cools down before the seed is cooked, then soak the seed for 12 – 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing. After treated seeds are sown in un-shaded nursery beds, they germinate within 5 – 10 days, with a germination rate of up to 90%.  Subsequent growth in the nursery is quite fast. Seedlings watered and weeded regularly are planted out in the rainy season, with a total time required in the nursery being 3 – 5 months. Keeping the plants for more than 9 months is not desirable, as they become too tall to handle, but seedlings can be transplanted even when 20 – 25 cm tall. Seeds can be stored for a long time if insect attack is avoided, which can be done by adding ash to the seeds. Seed storage behaviour is orthodox and a germination rate of 47% has been recorded after 9 years of storage at room temperature; with no loss in viability following 4 years of storage. Trees can also be propagated from branch cuttings.

Products and uses  

The leaves, flowers, seed and bark of this plant contain a range of medicinally active compounds, though the leaves are generally the richest source of most of these compounds. The plant is reported to have antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-diarrhoeal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cardio-protective, gastro-protective, hepato-protective and wound healing activity. It is used in folk medicine to treat a range of disorders, including constipation, inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, pneumonia, and malaria.

Urban/Agroforestry uses 

The tree is planted to provide shade in tea plantations, compounds etc. The tree can be planted as live fence posts. It is grown on eroded sites for erosion control, and for soil rehabilitation and improvement through atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Other readings

Chou, C. H., & Leu, L. L. (1992). Allelopathic substances and interactions of Delonix regia (BOJ) Raf. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 18(12), 2285-2303.

Nepali, B. R., & Gyawali, Y. P. (2001). Impact of Dust Pollution on Some Roadside Flora in Butwal Town, Western Nepal. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology, 3(1).