Pterocarpus Marsupium
Family : Leguminosae - Papilioniodeae
Common Name : Bijasal
English Name : Indian Kino
Hindi Name : Vijayasara, Bija
Telugu Name : Yegisa; Asana
Bengali Name : Peetashal
Tree Characteristics :
Indian kino is a large deciduous tree with spreading branches reaching a height of up to 33 metres. When growing under favourable conditions, the tree can produce a straight bole. A very valuable timber tree that is often planted by the Indian forest.
Nursery:
Pods are collected from February to May from the trees or from the ground. Pods are dried and stored in gunny bags. Viability is retained for one year. No. of pods per Kg 1935; Germination percentage 45 to 50; Soaking the seeds for 72 hours in cold water or in cowdung slurry for 48 hours. Seed can be put in bigger polybags (because of fast development of root) in February to March; or the stumps can be prepared from one year old seedlings raised in primary bed.
Economic Uses :
Ø The tree yields a red gum known as 'kino'.
Ø Indian kino is often used in herbal medicine in India, the leaves, bark and most commonly the resin being used.
Leaves,flowers and gum constitute the drug. It is useful in treating diabetic patients. Bruised leaves are applied on skin diseases, sores and boils. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery. It is locally applied in leucorrhoea and in passive haemorrhages. An aqueous infusion of the wood is said to be of use in diabetes
