Common Name: Red Sandalwood

General Information

Adenanthera pavonina is a very fast-growing deciduous tree with a spreading crown of light, feathery foliage[]. It can reach a height of 6 - 20 metres with a bole up to 45cm in diameter[, ]. Older trees often have small buttresses, and multiple-stem trees can be quite common[]. The tree is usually only leafless for a few days each year[].
The tree is widely cultivated in the tropics for a wide range of uses[]. A very ornamental plant with fragrant, creamy flowers, it is often grown as a specimen and as a street tree[]. It is also grown as a timber crop, for its edible and medicinal uses, as a nurse crop for slower-growing species and as a shade tree for coffee and nutmeg[].

Known Hazards

The raw seeds are poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Solomon Isles.

Habitat

Deciduous forests at low elevations in both primary and secondary formations, sometimes in calcareous soils[, ]. Locally common in many Pacific Islands along roadsides, dry open forest and disturbed areas from sea-level to lower montane[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid, lowland tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 400 metres[, ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 12 - 36°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 5,000mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 6,000mm[].
Prefers a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. Succeeds in any moderately fertile, moisture-retentive soil[]. It is found in the wild on a variety of soils, from deep, well-drained to shallow and rocky[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[]. Requires a position sheltered from high winds[].
Plants can become invasive in lowland regions[].
Growth is initially slow but increases rapidly after the first year, during which average annual growth rates of 23 - 26mm in diameter and 200 - 230cm in height can be attained[].
Trees planted 1 x 2 metres apart for windbreaks and at 2 x 2 metres in plantations can be thinned in 3 - 5 years to provide fuel wood and construction materials[]. For shade trees, spacing varies from 5 to 10 metres, depending on the companion crop and site[].
Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round[].
Trees resprout easily, allowing for coppice management with good survival[].
The tree is susceptible to breakage in high winds, with most of the damage occurring in the crown[, ].
The seeds are fairly uniform and were traditionally used as weights by apothecaries and goldsmiths - each seed weighing nearly 4grains (0.25g)[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[]. The tree is often found without any nodules or only sparsely furnished with nodules[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or cooked[]. They can be roasted, shelled and then eaten with rice[, ]. The seeds are easily digested and are enjoyed by children and adults alike[].The bright red seeds taste like soya beans and contain 25% oil plus 39% protein[]. They contain considerable quantities of lignoceric acid - a 24-carbon straight-chain saturated fatty acid[]. The seed may require boiling to neutralize toxicity[, ].

Young leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[, , ].

Medicinal

The plant is antibacterial and haemaglutinin[].

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of rheumatism and gout[, ].

The bark is used to treat leprosy[].
A decoction of the bark and leaves is used to treat dysentery, diarrhoea and tonsillitis[].

The wood is used as a tonic[]. The pulverized wood, mixed with water, is taken orally for treating migraines and headaches[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is a natural pioneer. With its fast rate of growth and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, it can be used for land reclamation and to re-establish woodland[, , ]. The spreading crown of light, feathery foliage offers attractive shade and the tree is often planted for shade in coffee, clove and rubber plantations[]. It is also planted along field borders as part of a windbreak[, ].
The small leaves break down easily, making the species a good green manure303].
It is compatible with most tropical field and tree crops, making it suitable to use in integrated production systems. It is inter-planted among field and tree crops such as spices, coffee and coconuts[]. It is often grown as a shade tree for coffee and nutmeg[].

Other Uses

The bark is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap for washing clothes etc[, , ]. It is also used as a hair shampoo[].
Local use of plant parts as a soap substitute is based on the presence of considerable quantities of lignoceric acid - a 24-carbon straight-chain saturated fatty acid - in the seed[].

The plant is a source of dyestuffs[]. A red dye is obtained from the shredded bark[]. The dye has been used for dyeing clothes, and is used by the Hindus of India for the sacred mark placed on the forehead[, ].

The red, glossy seeds are widely used as toys and for beads in necklaces and other ornaments[, , , ]. They were formerly used to weigh gold, silver and diamonds, because they have a narrow range in weight[].
Goldsmiths use the seeds in soldering[].

The heartwood is bright yellow when fresh, turning red upon exposure to the air; it is sharply demarcated from the light grey sapwood, which can be up to 5 cm wide[]. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, close-grained and durable[, ]. It can be easy or somewhat difficult to work, easy to plane and it takes a high finish[]. The heartwood is resistant to dry wood termites[]. A valued timber in many countries, being used for cabinet making, construction, flooring, paving blocks, vehicle bodies and fine art[, ].
Esteemed in the Pacific Islands for fuel wood, the wood burns readily, producing significant heat, and is used in both above- and below-ground ovens[]. The wood yields very good charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - the seedcoat is extremely hard and requires scarification, otherwise germination may take 12 months or more[]. This is easiest to carry out by pre-soaking the seed for 12- 24 hours in warm water[]. Treated seed can give 100% germination in as little as 1 - 4 days, though 10 days is more usual[]. The seed can be sown in situ, in nursery beds or in containers[, ]. Young seedlings attain a height of 8 - 30 cm in approximately 3 months.
Nodal cuttings in sand in a closed case[].
The seed can be stored for several years in sealed containers at room temperature[].
Propagation from large cuttings is reported to be successful in India[].

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