Botanical Name: Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze
Family: Fabaceae
Common names: Flame of the Forest, Palash
Vernacular/Local name: Palas
Diagnostic characters: A deciduous tree. Leaves trifoliate, alternate. Flowers bright red, in terminal or axillary, densely fascicled, racemes. Pod oblong, the base flat, wing-like and indehiscent. Seed single per pod.
Phenology: February – June
Etymology: The genus name Butea is named after John Stuart, Earl of Bute and monosperma refers to single-seeded pods.
Uses:
The plant is used in the treatment of skin diseases and piles.
Dye is obtained from flowers.
References:
Kirtikar & Basu (Indian Medicinal Plants), CSIR – Wealth of India,
https://www.flowersofindia.net/
https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/31135
