Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC.
Vernacular name: Indian Rosewood, Sisum
Species Name: Dalbergia sisso DC
Family: Fabaceae (Papilionaceae)
Habit: Tree
Stem: Rough bark with longitudinal furrows, velvety hair on young branches
Leaf: Compound, Alternate, distichous, imparipinnate, leaf-rachis zigzag, stipules lanceolate, leaflets 3-5, orbicular, acuminate, entire
Flowering: March-May
Flowers: Axillary panicle inflorescence, bisexual flowers, Calyx campanulate, corolla pale yellow, standard obovate-orbicular, with a long claw, wings oblong, keel obtuse, stamens 9, monadelphous, ovary long, style incurved
Fruit: May-June, Samara pods, brown seeds
Propagation: Seed
Uses:
- Decoction of leaves is useful in gonorrhea. The root is astringent.
- Wood is alterative, useful in leprosy, boils, eruptions, and allay vomiting.
- Plant is used in traditional medicines as has anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.
- In South Asia twigs are widely used as toothbrush for gum health.
- The wood is valuable so, it is used in furniture making and some musical instrument like guitar making.
- Wood is also used in making of tool handles, boats and railway sleepers.
- It is a soil enriching nitrogen fixing species that also used as livestock fodder.
- Plant helps to control soil erosion due to its extensive root system.
