Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Shorea robusta Gaertn. – Habit
Photo courtesy: Vijay Kumar Mastakar
JHARKHAND
State Tree: Sakher, Sakhu, Sal, Salwa (Hindi).
Botanical Name: Shorea robusta C.F. Gaertn.
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Vernacular Names: Sal, Hal (Assamese); Sal (Bengali); Ashvakarna, Asina, Asu, Bile-bhogimara
(Kannada); Dieng Blei (Khasi); Sargi Gatcho (Oriya); Karimaruthu, Kungiliyam, Maramaram
(Malyalam); Pangong (Manipuri); Guggilu, Rala, Sajara, Sal (Marathi); Agnivallabha, Ashvakarna,
Ashvakarnika (Sanskrit); Attam, Kungiliyam, Venkungiliyam (Tamil).
Etymology: The genus is named after Sir John Shore Teignmouth (1751 – 1834), who served as a
Governor-General of India from 1793 to 1797.
Description: Deciduous trees, to
40 m tall; trunk 2 – 5 m in
diam. with a spreading crown;
bark grey to dark brown with
longitudinal fissures. Leaves
simple, reddish when young,
soon becoming delicate green,
ovate to oblong, acuminate at
apex, 10 – 25 × 5 – 20 cm,
thin-leathery, glabrous, shiny;
petioles 2 – 2.5 cm long.
Flowers in large terminal or
axillary racemose panicles, to
25 cm long, yellowish white.
Sepals subequal, ovate,
densely yellowish brown-
pubescent. Petals linear,
creamy yellow with pink stripe.
Stamens many. Ovary ovoid,
densely pubescent. Fruits a nut,
ovoid, 1.3 – 1.5 × c. 1 cm,
surrounded by unequal,
spathulate sepals enlarged into
5 unequal wings.
Shorea robusta Gaertn. – Flowering twig
Photo Courtesy: Vijay Kumar Mastakar
Flowering & Fruiting: March –
April.
Range of Distribution: It is
native to the Indian
Subcontinent; also distributed in
Myanmar and Nepal.
Economic Importance: Tree
yields an oleoresin called “Sal
Dammar” or “Bengal Dammar”
(Dhup, Guggal, Laldhuna Ral)
used as incense and also
employed in paints and
varnishes, and for caulking
boats. It is also employed for
hardening softer waxes for use
in shoe-polishes, and for carbon papers and ribbons. An essential oil obtained from Sal resin called
“Chua oil” is used as a fixative. Cake can be used as a feed for cattle and poultry.
Traditional Uses: Leaves are widely used for making leaf plates and cups. Seeds yield fatty oil called
“Sal Butter”, used locally for cooking and lighting purposes. Seeds are boiled into porridge with
flowers of Madhuca longifolia (Mahua) and fruits of Vigna unguiculata (Cow pea). In Southern India,
seeds are ground into coarse flour, and used in preparation of bread.
Medicinal Uses: Chua oil is employed for ear troubles and cutaneous diseases.
Conservation Practices: The plant regenerates naturally through seed and stem cutting. Direct sowing
is the cheapest and best method of artificial propagation. Seeds germinate soon after falling off the
tree if moisture conditions are favourable. The germination percentage of fresh seeds is 90 – 100%,
but their viability falls to zero after just a few weeks. Most commonly the seeds are planted 10 – 20
cm apart in rows with spacing of 3 – 7 m.
Source: Vinay Ranjan, Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah.