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Saraca indica L.
| Family Name: | Fabaceae (Leguminosae) |
| Synonyms: | Saraca bijuga, Saraca asoca (sensu auct., misapplied), Saraca pierreana, Saraca harmandiana, Saraca arborescens |
| Common Name: | Sorrowless Tree, Asoka Tree, Ashoka Tree, Gapis, Talan, 无忧树, 印度无忧树, 无忧花 |
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Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Rounded |
| Maximum Height | 7 m to 10 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia |
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Monsoon Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small tree with compact crown, up to 10m height. |
| Foliage | Pinnately compound, with 6 - 12 leaflets. Young leaflets reddish and hang limply like handkerchiefs. |
| Flowers | Tree exhibits cauliflory -- flowers produced in big dense clusters directly on trunk or branches. Unlike most other legumes, flowers have no petals. Sepals open yellow, aging to orange and red, fragrant especially upon dusk. Fairly free-blooming, but more prolific from Feb to May when whole tree may be covered with blooms. |
| Fruits | Large flat, leathery explosive pods (20cm), purplish when mature, shaped like scimitars. |
| Similar | Differentiated from Saraca thaipingensis by its smaller leaflets with very short (almost sessile) petioles, and its orange-red flowers (vs. orange for Saraca thaipingensis.) |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts (Edible Flowers) Food (Herb and Spice) [Others]: Medicinal: Parts of tree used in traditional Ayruvedic medicine and homeopathic therapies. Juice obtained from boiling of bark said to be effective against female medical disorders like menstrual irregularities. Flowers are eaten against dysentery. Cultural: Tree is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Represents symbol of love to Hindus and dedicated to Lord Rama. Buddhists believe Sakaymuni Buddha was born under this tree. Commonly planted in temple compounds and flowers are used in religious offerings. Hindus believe that by drinking the water in which the flowers have lain, their children will be protected from grief. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Fragrant (Flowers) (Night, Dawn / Dusk, Day), Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference - Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm, General |
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| SGMP Treatment |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bee-Attracting |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Red |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Even-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.0 (Tree - Dense Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
| Bark Colour(s) | Grey brown |
| Mature Bark Texture | Smooth |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality 1 | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange, Red, Yellow / Golden |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Inflorescence Size Remarks | Yellow (when young) to orange to red |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) - Angiosperms and Gymnosperms | Purple |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type 1 | Dehiscent Dry Fruit |
| Fruit Type 2 | Legume / Pod |
Image Repository
| Images |
Others
| Master ID | 1820 |
| Species ID | 3113 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
