General Information :

• It is a medium-sized deciduous tree with numerous armed branches.
• Bark yellowish grey in color.
• Flowers are dark red in color
• Thick black color pods contain 6-12 dark red to purple brown seeds.

Distribution :

It is widely distributed in India.

Habitat : Littoral and Deciduous Forest

Soil : Deep alluvial loams, silts and clays

Altitude :Up to 750 m

Rainfall :500-1500 mm

Temperature : Up to 32°c

Terrain : Plain/hilly

Tree Characteristics :

• Sensitive to Frost and coppice well.

Habit : Deciduous Tree

Natural Regeneration :

• Naturally regenerated by seeds and coppice.

Artificial Regeneration :

• Artificially propagated by Direct seed sowing.

Seed collection and Storage :

• Seeds are collected from February – April
• Collected seeds are dried in sun and stored in gunny bags.
• Germination capacity is 80 – 90 %
• Seeds are viable for 12 months.

Seed Treatment :

• Cold water treatment for 24 hours.

Nursery Technique :

Nursery raised seedlings :

• 3-4 months old seeds lings are opted for planting n the onset of monsoon.
• Pits size of 30 cm3 is adopted.
• Minimum spacing is 5 m x 5 m which may be thinned to 10 m x 10 m as the tree matures.
• Survival percentage is 70-80%

Plantation technique :

• 3-4 months old seeds lings are opted for planting n the onset of monsoon.
• Pits size of 30 cm3 is adopted.
• Minimum spacing is 5 m x 5 m which may be thinned to 10 m x 10 m as the tree matures.
• Survival percentage is 70-80%.

Care & Disease Control :

• Regular weeding ad soil working will stimulates the growth.

Irrigation :

• It is resistant to periodic waterlogging for up to 2 weeks, but it prefers well drained sandy loams

Recommended Harvest :

• 15-20 years.

Yield :

• Approximately 150 to 175 tons/ha.

Agro Forestory :

Boundary or barrier or support:

• In India, it is planted as a live hedge around cultivated gardens.
• When the cuttings are stuck on the ground, they root quickly to give live hedges.
• It has been used India as support for pepper and grape vines, by virtue of its quick growth and suitable bark. 

Major uses :

• In coastal areas it is used for rafts, fisherman’s float and catamarans
• The tree is extensively cultivated for live fence and hedges.
• It acts as wind break in coastal regions.
• It is also planted as a shade tree in tea and coffee plantations.

Market details :

• Approximately Rs.2800 to Rs.3000/ton.