Fabaceae

Native:

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Common Names

English – Coral Bean Tree

Malayalam – മഞ്ചാടി

Description: A large deciduous tree reaching a height up to 15-20m. Leaves bipinnately compound, up to 24cm long, leaflets 7-15 pairs, sessile, alternate. Inflorescence axillary and terminal raceme. Flower pedicellate, pale yellow in color. Fruit a legume or pod, curved and curled after dehiscence, 10-22.5 cm long, c.7-10 mm broad. Seeds many, bright red in colour with a dark black spotat one end.

Distribution: 

Uses: the ground seed is widely used for the treatment of various human ailments such as treatment of boils, inflammation, blood disorders, arthritis, rheumatism, cholera, paralysis, epilepsy, convulsion, spasm, and indigestion. However, unprecedented usage is not advisable as it may be poisonous as well.