Family : Leguminace
Sub-Family : Papilionaceae
English names : Indian redwood
Hindi name : Shisham, Agaru
Kannada : Sissoo
Telugu : Sissu
Distribution
Trees are found commonly in sub-continental tracts, it grown all over India but
especially Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharastra, Kerala, Karantaka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat as a road side tree. It is a medium to large deciduous tree with a light crown. It can grow to 30 m in height and 80 cm in diameter, but is usually smaller. Trunks are often crooked when grown in the open. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound and about 15 cm long. Flowers are whitish to pink, 1 cm long and in dense clusters 5-10 cm in length. Pods are oblong, flat, thin, 3-7 cm long, 10-12 mm wide, and light brown. They contain 1-5 flat bean-shaped seeds 7-9 mm long. Sissoo and shisham are common names for Dalbergia sissoo.
Description of the plant
It is a deciduous tree reaching a height of 20-25m, and is approximately 75 -150 cm in girth.
Identification
This tree can be identified by its crooked trunk and acuminate leaves. Leaves are imparipinnate, with 3 -4 leaflets arranged alternately, and abruptly acuminate. Flowers are yellowish-white, small and sessile, borne in axillary panicles. Fruits are pods are pale brown in color, glabrous, and strap-shaped. Each pod contains 1-4 seeds.
Uses
Wood is used for timber and paper pulp and the wood oil is used as a lubricant. The leaves are used as fodder. Sissoo is among the finest cabinet, furniture and veneer timbers. The heartwood is golden to dark brown, and sapwood white to pale brownish white. The heartwood is extremely durable, and is very resistant to dry-wood termites; but the sapwood is readily attacked by fungi and borers. Timber tree, the young branches and foliage eaten by livestock. After teak, it is the most important cultivated timber tree in India, planted on roadsides, and as a shade tree for tea plantations. It makes first class cabinetry and furniture. It is used for plywood, agricultural, and musical instruments, skis, carvings, boats, floorings, etc. The leaves are used for fodder. it is said to be one of the most desirable shade trees for streets and backyards.
Folk Medicine
Reported to be stimulant, sissoo is a folk remedy for excoriations, gonorrhea, and skin ailments. Ayurvedics prescribe the leaf juice for eye ailments, considering the wood and bark abortifacient, anthelmintic, antipyretic, apertif, aphrodisiac, expectorant, and refrigerant. They use the wood and bark for anal disorders, blood diseases, burning sensations, dysentery, dyspepsia, leucoderma, and skin ailments. Yunani use the wood for blood disorders, burning sensations, eye and nose disorders, scabies, scalding urine, stomach problems, and syphilis. The alterative wood is used in India for boils, eruptions, leprosy and nausea
Phenology
Tree flowers in March-April.
Fruits are fully formed by July. Fruits ripen in December-January.
Natural Reproduction
Natural regeneration of this tree is satisfactory. Pods are light and fly over great distances. Seeds germinate under favorable conditions.
Methods of seed collection
Ripe pods are collected from the tree from December to January and dried in the sun for 3-4 days. Seeds can be obtained by beating the fruit with sticks to break them open.
Recommended method of propagation
It takes place most commonly by root suckers and also by seeds. The seeds remain viable for only a few months. Seeds should be soaked in water for 48 hours before sowing, and 60-80% germination can be expected in 1-3 weeks. The seedlings should be raised in nursery beds and then transplanted as the seeds are small and require shade.
Sub-Family : Papilionaceae
English names : Indian redwood
Hindi name : Shisham, Agaru
Kannada : Sissoo
Telugu : Sissu
Distribution
Trees are found commonly in sub-continental tracts, it grown all over India but
especially Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharastra, Kerala, Karantaka, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat as a road side tree. It is a medium to large deciduous tree with a light crown. It can grow to 30 m in height and 80 cm in diameter, but is usually smaller. Trunks are often crooked when grown in the open. Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound and about 15 cm long. Flowers are whitish to pink, 1 cm long and in dense clusters 5-10 cm in length. Pods are oblong, flat, thin, 3-7 cm long, 10-12 mm wide, and light brown. They contain 1-5 flat bean-shaped seeds 7-9 mm long. Sissoo and shisham are common names for Dalbergia sissoo.
Description of the plant
It is a deciduous tree reaching a height of 20-25m, and is approximately 75 -150 cm in girth.
Identification
This tree can be identified by its crooked trunk and acuminate leaves. Leaves are imparipinnate, with 3 -4 leaflets arranged alternately, and abruptly acuminate. Flowers are yellowish-white, small and sessile, borne in axillary panicles. Fruits are pods are pale brown in color, glabrous, and strap-shaped. Each pod contains 1-4 seeds.
Uses
Wood is used for timber and paper pulp and the wood oil is used as a lubricant. The leaves are used as fodder. Sissoo is among the finest cabinet, furniture and veneer timbers. The heartwood is golden to dark brown, and sapwood white to pale brownish white. The heartwood is extremely durable, and is very resistant to dry-wood termites; but the sapwood is readily attacked by fungi and borers. Timber tree, the young branches and foliage eaten by livestock. After teak, it is the most important cultivated timber tree in India, planted on roadsides, and as a shade tree for tea plantations. It makes first class cabinetry and furniture. It is used for plywood, agricultural, and musical instruments, skis, carvings, boats, floorings, etc. The leaves are used for fodder. it is said to be one of the most desirable shade trees for streets and backyards.
Folk Medicine
Reported to be stimulant, sissoo is a folk remedy for excoriations, gonorrhea, and skin ailments. Ayurvedics prescribe the leaf juice for eye ailments, considering the wood and bark abortifacient, anthelmintic, antipyretic, apertif, aphrodisiac, expectorant, and refrigerant. They use the wood and bark for anal disorders, blood diseases, burning sensations, dysentery, dyspepsia, leucoderma, and skin ailments. Yunani use the wood for blood disorders, burning sensations, eye and nose disorders, scabies, scalding urine, stomach problems, and syphilis. The alterative wood is used in India for boils, eruptions, leprosy and nausea
Phenology
Tree flowers in March-April.
Fruits are fully formed by July. Fruits ripen in December-January.
Natural Reproduction
Natural regeneration of this tree is satisfactory. Pods are light and fly over great distances. Seeds germinate under favorable conditions.
Methods of seed collection
Ripe pods are collected from the tree from December to January and dried in the sun for 3-4 days. Seeds can be obtained by beating the fruit with sticks to break them open.
Recommended method of propagation
It takes place most commonly by root suckers and also by seeds. The seeds remain viable for only a few months. Seeds should be soaked in water for 48 hours before sowing, and 60-80% germination can be expected in 1-3 weeks. The seedlings should be raised in nursery beds and then transplanted as the seeds are small and require shade.
Manjunath Holalu
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