Mimosaceae

Native: Tropical regions of India, Myanmar and Indochina

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Order: Fabales

Family: Fabaceae

Common Names

English –  Ironwood of Burma

Malayalam –  ഇരുൾ, ഇരുപൂൾ

Description: A common deciduous tree that grow up to 30m in height. Leaves are bi-pinnately compound glossy green leaves with 2-4 paires of leaflets. Inflorescence is a spikate globose head born on leaf axis at the branch tips with white flowers. Fruit is a pod with 10-15cm long and 6cm wide, woody, hard, rusty velvety color with a boomerang shape, splitting into two twisted segments (thereby the name in Malayalam) with loude noice in the dry summer. 

Distribution: Indo-Malesia

Uses: The wood pulp may be used for making wrapping paper. The seeds of this tree are edible. This tree is considered a medicinal plant in India. Leaves are used to treat wounds in elephants. Leaves are good source of nitrogen and hence used as a good green manure. Wood is durable, dense and hard. Used for making various furniture. Pericarp of the pod is used as a fuel wood.