Adina cordifolia
Family : Rubiaceae
Common Name : Haldu
English Name : Haldu
Hindi Name : Karam
Telugu Name : Bandaru, Pasupu
Bengali Name : Bangka
Tree Characteristics :
It is a species of deciduous forests, found throughout Andhra Pradesh. It usually grows on sandy loam and clayey loam soils. Identified by greyish bark, interpetiolar stipules and crodate, shortly acuminate leaves.
Nursery:
The heads are plucked in February to March from the branches and dried in the sun to break and then immersed in the water to separate the fertile seeds which settle down. The fertitle seeds are dried in the sun and the cleaned by winnowing which can be stored in the sealed tins upto second season. Seeds germinate better after storage because they require after ripening No.of seeds per kg 1,10,00,000 to 1,18,00,000; Germination percentage 30 to 40. A layer of brushwood is spread over the beds and burnt to produce the ash over which the seeds are broadcasted in April to May and covered with a fine layer of soil. Shading of beds is necessary. Two months old seedlings are transplanted.
Economic Uses :
The bark contains 7 - 9% tannins
The heartwood is yellow to yellow-white when fresh, turning pale-yellow or reddish-brown when exposed
The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard, moderately durable with some resistance to fungal attack. It seasons normally, with only a slight risk of distortion, but a high risk of checking; once dry it is moderately stable in service.
It is easy to work by hand and with machine tools, though it should be planed with care to avoid picking single fibres up; it polishes well and takes a high lustrous finish; nailing and screwing are good; gluing is correct. The wood is reported to be acid-resistant, making it suitable for use as laboratory bench tops etc.
