Anthocephalus cadamba
Family : Rubiaceae
Common Name : Amboina
English Name : Kadam
Hindi Name : Kadamb
Telugu Name : Kadamhamu
Bengali Name : Nipa
Tree Characteristics :
Amboina is a large, ornamental tree with a broad, umbrella-shaped crown that can reach a height of 45 metres. It has a straight, cylindrical bole, sometimes with buttresses, that can have a diameter of 100cm, exceptionally to 160cm. Amboina is becoming one of the most frequently planted trees in the tropics where it is often grown along avenues, roadsides and in villages both for ornament and to provide shade. The tree is highly regarded religiously and culturally in India, Java and Malaysia, it is considered sacred to the Lord Krishna. It is a favoured plantation species, both inside and outside its native range.
Nursery:
The seed is sown in boxes or in raised nursery beds in February-March. The seed is broadcasted @ 130 gms. per square meter of bed and covered very lightly with fine sailor sand after which watering is done. Excessive watering is to be avoided. Germination starts within 15 days. Seedlings are much subjected to damage by insects. Two month old seedlings are transplanted into polypots. No. of seeds per kg is 9 to 20 lakhs and the germination percentage is about 70.
Economic Uses :
The wood is extensively used for ceiling boards, light construction work, packing cases, planking, carving and turnery,veneers and plywood suitable for the manufacture of commercial grade plywood and tea chest plywood. In Assam wood is mainly used in the plywood industries.
It is also suitable for the manufacture of pencils, match boxes, and splints. Kadam flowers are an important raw material in the production of ‘attar’, which are Indian perfumesBrown wrapping paper can also be prepared by sulphate process.
Fruits are edible. Good Fodder. Bark used for relieving fever and extract of leaves are used for mouth gargle.
