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Adenanthera pavonina L.
Synonym : Adenanthera gersenii Scheff.
Sub amily : Mimosoideae
Local Names
: Manjadi, Circassian tree,
Red bead tree
Flowering and
fruiting period:
January – September
Distribution: Sri Lanka, North East India,
Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and China
Habitat: occurring in sacred grooves and
low land Areas
IUCN status: Data Deficient
Endemic: No
Uses: Ornamental, anti-inflammatory. A
red powder made from the wood is also used as an antiseptic paste. In ancient
Indian medicine, the ground seeds are used to treat boils and inflammations. A
decoction of the leaves is used to treat gout and rheumatism.
Key Characters: Red bead tree is a deciduous
tree with grey to reddish-brown bark. Leaves simple bipinnate, alternate.
Leaflets with entire margin. Flowers- bisexual, pale yellow; petals 5. Stamens 10,
free. Ovary subsessile and flat. Style filiform with simple stigma. Fruit a
pod, spirally coiled after dehiscence. Seeds are glossy and red in colour.