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Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

Synonym: Erythrina monosperma Lam., Butea frondosa Koenig ex Roxb.

PAPILIONOIDEAE

Local Names : ബ്രഹ്മവൃക്ഷം, ചമത, Flame of the forest.

Flowering Period : March to April.

Distribution : Tropical Asia

Uses: Tannin source, Dye, Firewood, antihelminth.

Exotic : No.

Deciduous trees with bark grey to greyish-brown and exudation red. Leaves trifoliate, alternate; margin entire. Flowers bisexual , bright red, in terminal or axillary, densely fascicled, racemes; calyx broadly campanulate; petals 5, standard petal lanceolate, clawed, wings falcate adnate to keel, keel united, curved; stamens 9 + 1; stigma small. Fruit a pod, oblong, the base flat, wing-like and indehiscent; seed obovate, compressed.