Acacia chundra
| Acacia chundra | ||||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
| Acacia chundra (Rottler) Willd. | ||||||||||||||||
| Range of Acacia chundra Range of Acacia chundra
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Acacia chundra is a perennial, deciduous tree found in Asia, India and in the Indian Ocean area. It grows 12m to 15m in height.[2]
Common names for it include Karangali, Kodalimurunkai, Lal Khair, Lal Khair, Rat Kihiriya and Red Cutch.
Its uses include chemical products, medicine and wood.
Uses
The wood is used for certain applications in shipbuilding.[3] The tree is used for timber, for cutch (catechutannic acid)[4] from its wood and for tannin. It is also used as food for bees.[5]
Kheersal is found as a white substance in the tree's wood. It has medicinal uses including the treatment of painful throat and cough. Katha is employed in astringent products and is used to promote digestion. It is also used to sooth infection and severe irritations of the skin.[4]
Cutch is sought after commercially as a dye and to preserve fabrics from weather, mildew and marine exposure.[4]
Conservation
A. chundra is "moderately threatened" and in India it is now necessary to get a permit before cutting this tree down.[6]