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Caesalpinia
sappan L.
Synonym : Biancaea sappan (L.) Tod.
Family
: Caesalpinioideae
Local Names
: Chappangam, Sappannam,
Brazil wood, Sappan wood
Flowering
and fruiting period:
August - December
Distribution: Indo-Malaysia
Habitat: Cultivated
IUCN
status:
Least concern
Endemic:
No
Uses: The heartwood is used to treat bruises and
coughing of blood. It is generally given to women after labour. A decoction of
the wood is used in many Asian countries to treat problems related to blood,
because of its red colour. The wood is used for firewood and timber. The wood
has fine texture, heavy, hard and lustrous; it takes high finish and is tough
and resistant to termite attack. It is used for inlaying work, cabinet making,
violin bows and for walking sticks. The red colour decoction from hardwood is
used as dye on cotton, silk and wool fabric. Roots give a yellow dye.
Key
Characters:
Trees, to 10 m high, sparsely armed
with short straight or recurved prickles.
