General Information :

• Cannonball tree is a deciduous tree with a dense, oblong crown
• Flowers are yellow, reddish and pink in color and are stunning fragrant.
• Pink and dark-red flowers growing directly on the bark of the trunk.
• The tree bears, directly on the trunk and main branches, large globose woody fruits which look like big rusty cannonballs hanging in clusters, like balls on a string.
• The sivalingam shape is visible at the center of the flower and snake shaped pollen is the specialty of this flower.
• The tree has more religious value as associated with lord Shiva.

Habitat : Along the sides of rivers and in swampy areas at elevations below 500 metres

Soil : A plant of moist to wet soils in the wild, though it can also succeed in dry soils

Altitude :1500 m

Rainfall :500 – 1500 mm

Temperature : 12 – 18 deg c

Terrain : Hills/Plains

Tree Characteristics :

• Plants are very susceptible to frost.
• Prefers a sunny position

Habit : Deciduous tree

Natural Regeneration :

• Naturally regenerated by seeds.

Artificial Regeneration :

• Artificial reproduction is common by Nursery raised seedlings.

Seed collection and Storage :

• Flowering and fruiting: March-May.
• Pods are then dried in the sun and broken to extract the seeds and  stored in gunny bags.

Seed Treatment :

• No Pretreatment Required.

Nursery Technique :

• Seeds can be sown in semi-shade, either in nursery beds or in individual containers.
• Fresh seeds are used to achive 80% germination.
• Seedlings should be placed in individual containers by the time they are 6 - 10cm tall, and are ready to plant out when 7 months old.

Plantation technique :

• Dig pits of 30 cm3.
• Fill up the pits with top soil mixed with 10 Kg of FYM and 1 Kg of Neem cake per pit.
• The seedlings are generally planted in pits having the size of 30x30x30 cm.
• The most common spacing adopted for plantation is 5m x 5m.
• On road sides, deeper pits of the size of 45 x 45 x 45 cm are preferred.

Care & Disease Control :

• In early stages weeding is necessary. In second year, soil working is important.

Major uses :

• The flowers have a wonderful smell and can be used to scent perfumes and cosmetics.
• Fruit - raw. Although the fruits are edible, the smell of the white flesh discourages most people from trying them, so they are only occasionally eaten.
• The wood is used for various lower value purposes including toys, boxes and crates, matches, interior joinery and panelling, furniture components, wood-ware, floats, blockboard and fibre boards.