A very common shrub of TDEF on Eastern Coast. One can see this shrub in Guindy National Forest, Chennai
--- On Thu, 18/12/08, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > From: J.M. Garg <[email protected]> > Subject: [indiantreepix:6587] Re: shrub spp > To: [email protected] > Cc: "saravanan.k,9787454854 M.Sc (forestry)," <[email protected]>, > [email protected] > Date: Thursday, 18 December, 2008, 8:09 AM > Thanks, Neil ji, > Some extracts from Wikipedia link: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea > > *Dichrostachys cinerea* also known as a *Bell mimosa*, > *Chinese lantern tree > *, *Kalahari Christmas tree* (South > Africa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa>) > or a *sicklebush*, is a legume > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legume> of the > genus *Dichrostachys > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys>* in the > Fabaceae <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabaceae> > family. > [1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea#cite_note-World_Agroforesty_Centre-0> > > The generic name '*Dichrostachys*' means > '2-coloured spike', and 'cinerea' > refers to the greyish hairs of the typical subspecies, > obtained from the > Greek <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language> > 'konis' and the > Latin<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin>'cineres'. > It is native mostly to Africa > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa> and > parts of Southeast Asia > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia> > > *Dichrostachys cinerea* is a > semi-deciduous<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-deciduous>to > deciduous > tree <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous_tree> > characterised by > bark<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bark>on young > branches, dark > grey-brown fissures on older branches and stems and > smooth on the spines. They typically grow up to 7 metres in > height and have > strong alternate thorns > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorn>, generally up > to 8 cm long. Flowers of the *Dichrostachys cinerea* are > characteristically > in bicoloured cylindrical spikes > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike> that > resemble Chinese lanterns and are 6-8 cm long and fragrant. > [4]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea#cite_note-3>Upper > flowers <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower> of a > hanging spike are > sterile, and are of a lilac or pale > purple<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple>. > Pods are usually a mustard > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard> brown and > are generally twisted or spiralled and may be up to 100 x > *15 mm. The > species has can be subcategorized with 2 slight variations > that have been > recognised.* D. cinerea *ssp. africana* and *D. cinerea* > ssp. *nyassana*, > the latter which is typically larger and less hairy in its > foliage. > [1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea#cite_note-World_Agroforesty_Centre-0> > In > India it can occur in dry deciduous > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous>forest. > > Fruit and seeds that grow on Dichrostachys cinerea are > edible. Cattle, > camels and game such as giraffe > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giraffe>, > buffalo <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo>, > kudu<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudu>, > hartebeest, nyala > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyala>, red > duiker<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_duiker&action=edit&redlink=1>and > Damara > dik-dik <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damara_dik-dik> > feed on the juicy pods > that fall to the ground. Such animals also feed on the > immature twigs and > leaves of the tree and are rich in > protein<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein>(11-15%) > and minerals. > The flowers can be a valuable source of > honey <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey> . The wood > is of a dense nature > and in bunring slowly with no toxicity, it is often used > for fuelwood. The > species yields a medium to heavy, durable hardwood and are > often used in > smaller domestic items as walking sticks, handles, spears > and tool handles > particularly in central Africa. In > medicine<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine>, > bark is used to alleviate headache > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headache>, > toothache <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothache>, > dysentery<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysentery>, > elephantiasis > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephantiasis> and root > infusions are consumed to treat > leprosy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy>, > syphilis <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syphilis> > coughs, as an anthelmintic, > purgative and strong diuretic. The leaves are particularly > useful and can be > beaten to treat epilepsy and can also be taken as a > diuretic and > laxative<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laxative>, > and its powder can be used in the massage of > fractures.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea#cite_note-World_Agroforesty_Centre-0> > > The roots have been known to treat bites or stings. As they > are rich in > nutrients they are often used as a > manure<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manure>, > particularly in the Sahel > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahel> region of > Africa along the riverbanks. > [5]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea#cite_note-4>The > plant is widely used for soil conservation, particularly in > India, for > shallow soils, aand in arid western and subhumid alluvial > plains. > > Although it has its uses, it is considered a threat to > agricultural > production and is listed on the Global Invasive Species > Database > [3]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea#cite_note-Global_Invasive_Species_Database-2> > > On Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 7:41 AM, Neil Soares > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > HiSaravanan, > > It is the Painted Thorn bush [Dichrostachys > cinerea]. > > With regards, > > Neil Soares. > > > > --- On *Thu, 12/18/08, saravanan.k,9787454854 M.Sc > (forestry), < > > [email protected]>* wrote: > > > > From: saravanan.k,9787454854 M.Sc (forestry), > <[email protected]> > > Subject: [indiantreepix:6584] shrub spp > > To: "indiantreepix" > <[email protected]> > > Date: Thursday, December 18, 2008, 5:17 AM > > > > > > regards > > > > K.Saravanan M.Sc (forestry),P.G Hostel > > Forest College and Research Institute, > > Mettupalayam - 641301 > > Coimbatore District,Tamilnadu > > mobile: 9787454854 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg > "We often ignore the beauty around us" > Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ > join Google e-group > (Indiantreepix) > http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en > > Get rid of Add-Ons in your email ID get [email protected]. 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