Botanical Name

Butea monosperma

Family

Fabaceae

Sanskrit name

Palaasha

English name

Flame of the forest

Hindi name

Phalash

Kannada name

Muttuga

Habit

Tree

Habitat

Moist and dry deciduous forests

Plant Description

Medium sized deciduous tree, with grey colour bark. Leaves are compound, trifoliate(three leaflets). The leaflets are large and rhomboid (diamond shape). Flower blooms during winter once the tree shed the leaves. Flowers are scarlet red in colour. Fruit is a pod around 20 cm long with a single seed. The bright orange –red flowers bloom in large group appears like forest fire from a long distance hence it is known as flame of the forest.

Distribution

India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, China South-Central, Nepal, Laos, Sri Lanka, China Southeast, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

Part used

Bark, leaves, flower and seed

Medicinal uses

Useful in bleeding disorders, skin diseases, worm infestation, gout, wounds, fracture

Other uses

Leaves are used to prepare plates and cups. Flowers are used as a source of dye and the wood is used as timber.

Ecological Significance

One of the dominant species of dry deciduous forests of southern India. Attracts butterflies, birds and other insects

Religious significance

Used to perform the rituals like yagna

Propagation through

Seeds