Ashoka Tree

Ashoka Tree

Saraca Asoca Roxb

Summary

Scientific Classification

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Fabales
Family : Caesalpinaceae
Genus : Saraca
Species : S. asoca
Scientific Name : Saraca asoca Roxb.

Common Names
English : Ashoka Tree
Hindi: Sita Ashoka, Vand Ichitra
Kannada: Achenge, Ashanke, Kenkalimara, Ashokadamara
Marathi: Ashok, Jasundi, Sita Ashoka

Description

  1. Habit and Habitat: Terrestrial, grows at an altitude of 750 m above the sea level6 and in fertile and semi-fertile soil. Height up to 9-10mts. Perennial, which can range from dark green to greyish green in colour.
  2. Distribution: It is found all over Indian subcontinent. Native to the Western Ghats and Deccan plateau. It also found in central and Eastern Himalayas.
  3. Morphology: Leaf: It is a Paripinnately Compound leaves, alternate, distichous and 7-30 cm long and its petiolule 0.1-0.6 cm long and opposite leaflets, 4-6 pairs, narrow elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, and its apex acute to acuminate, base acute to rounded or subcordate, glabrous, midrib raised above and tertiary nerves reticulate. Inflorescence: Dense Corymbs Flower: Bracteate, brateolate, Calyx small petaloid, Corolla tube long, 5 petals. Androecium: 10 stamens, long, yellow at the base red at tapering ends, bilobed. Gynoecium: Ovary superior, many ovules, style long, stigma very small. Fruit: Pod, compressed, oblong, about 15cms long, dehisce longitudinally. Seeds: obovate-orbiculate.
  4. Propagation: Through seeds.

  5. Importance:
    Grown as ornamental tree in gardens. Highly Medicinal valued. It is anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, anti-cancerous, larvicidal activity, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-helminthic.

  6. Location: Anant Manohar Garden opposite to RPD office.

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