Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

ചമത

Family
:
Leguminosae (Papilionoideae)
Synonym
:
Erythrina monosperma Lam.
Common Names
:
Brahmavriksham, Flame of the forest
Flowering Period
:
March – April
Distribution
:
Tropical Asia
Habitat
:
Dry and moist deciduous forests, also grown in the plains
Habit
:
Tree
Uses
:

Tannin source, dye yielding, fire wood, anti-helminthic. A powerful astringent, it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and wounds. Nitrogen fixing, wind break, culturally significant, green manure, timber implements. The seeds contain around 18% oil called 'moodoga oil’, it is an effective treatment for hookworms. 

മരത്തിൽ നിന്നും കറ ലഭിക്കുന്നു. കൃമികടിക്ക് ഔഷധമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നു.

Key Characters
:

Flame of the forest is deciduous trees with bark grey to greyish-brown and exudation red. Leaves trifoliate, alternate; margin entire. Flowers bisexual, bright red; petals 5; stamens 9 + 1; stigma small. Fruit a pod, oblong, the base flat, wing-like; seed obovate, compressed.