Parkia biglandulosa Wight & Arn. | |
Fabaceae | |
Bandhu Kai Maram | |
| Botanical Name | Parkia biglandulosa Wight & Arn. |
| Synonyms | Mimosa pedunculata. Roxb.; Parkia pedunculata. (Roxb.) J. F. Macbr. |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Common Name | English : Badminton Ball Tree / Tamil : Bandhu Kai Maram |
| Distribution | Global: Africa, India, Myanmar and Bangladesh Indian: Throughout India |
| Description | Large deciduous unarmed tree up to 20m height, bark greyish white. Leaves Bipinnate compound, alternate, petiole pulvinate, two glands present at the base of petiole, Leaf pinna - 20 to 60 pairs, leaflets minute (60-100 pairs), margin entire, apex obtuse. Inflorescence globose or spherical head. Flowers greenish white to brownish, peduncle long, pentamerous, bisexual, actinomorphic, calyx sepals 5, tubular and toothed, corolla petals 5, cleft halfway down, segment subvalvate. Stamens 10, exserted, filament united at the base, anther narrow, glandless, pollen cohering in irregular masses. Ovary monocarpellary, stalked with many ovule, style filiform, stigma capitate. Fruit pod, downy, narrowed gradually in to long stalk, strap shaped. Seeds small and many. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | January - March / April - June |
| Uses | Planted as avenue tree. Roasted seeds added as substitute for coffee seeds containing flavouring substances. The farinaceous pulp around the seeds are edible |
| Medicinal Uses | Not analysed for any medicinal uses. |
| Tamil Name | Bandhu Kai Maram |