Common Name: Sandan

General Information

Desmodium oojeinense is a medium sized semi-deciduous tree, growing 6 - 14 metres tall[, ]. The bole is usually short and crooked, though in some areas it is straight, and is about 40 - 50cm in diameter[].
Although small, the tree produces a valuable timber that is particularly highly valued in India[, ]. It is gathered from the wild and also sometimes cultivated. In addition, the tree provides a fibre, has a range of medicinal uses, and is planted to control soil erosion. Flowering trees are conspicuous and afford a beautiful sight, making sandan a versatile ornamental tree[].

Known Hazards

The bark is used as a fish poison[, ].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Nepal.

Habitat

A component of mixed deciduous and sal (Shorea robusta) forests. It is found in hot valleys and is also associated with pines at the higher limits of its elevation range[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations from 300 - 1,500 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 20 - 47°c and the mean annual rainfall is 950 - 1,900mm[]. It is not found in wet regions[]. Although young trees are frost sensitive, mature trees are hardy[].
The plant attains its best growth and greatest size in lowland alluvial soils, though it also grows well on dry exposed sites and eroded hills[]. It also occurs on alluvial soil, red clay, black cotton, and rocky soil[]. Young trees and seedlings need a moderate amount of shade, but once established they require full sunlight for best development[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Because of the abundant small uncinate hairs on most species, the seedpods cling most tenaciously to clothing, to any part of the human body, and also to the feathers and hair of various animals, thus ensuring a wide dispersal of the plants[].
Mean annual growth increment averages between 3 - 20mm in DBH. Trials indicate that keeping seedlings free of heavy weed competition improves growth and survival and such trees attain heights of 4 - 5 metres and DBH of 10.5 cm in about 6 years. Conversely, heavy weed competition can kill seedlings[].
The tree coppices well and produces abundant root-suckers[]. Fast-growing coppice and root-suckers attain 7 - 10 metres in height and 12 - 17 cm in DBH after 20 years[].
Coppice and root-suckers can be managed for timber production[]. In its native range, forests are commonly managed simultaneously for sandan and teak production. The exploitable diameter for Desmodium oojeinensis timber is generally 30cm. Timber exploitation has degraded the natural stands of this species. To reverse this condition, improved natural forest management and the establishment of large scale tree plantations are necessary[].
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The juice of the root, mixed with the powder of two fruits of black pepper, is taken in cases of eye trouble[].

The stembark is acrid, antiinflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, cooling, depurative, febriguge, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, rejuvenating, styptic and sudorific[]. It is used to treat a range of conditions including diarrhoea, dysentery and fevers, and is said to be also useful in the treatment of anaemia, leucoderma, ulcers and biliousness[]. It is useful in the management of diabetes[].
A paste of bark is applied topically to cuts and wounds[].

A sap exudate (gum?[]) is used to make a medicine against dysentery[]. The gum is astringent[].

A methanolic extract of the stembark contains alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, proteins and carbohydrates[]

Agroforestry Uses:

Sandan coppices well and produces abundant root-suckers. This characteristic is particularly useful for controlling erosion along steep banks and eroded hillsides[].
The tree comes up readily in blanks in the forest, on hilly slopes, landslips and bare places[]. In addition, the tree fixes atmospheric nitrogen[]. This could make it a valuable pioneer species, though its free-suckering might be a disadvantage here[].
Intercropping with lesser millet (Eleusine coracana) when about 60 cm wide strips are kept clear of the crop have been reported[].

Other Uses

Bark fibres are suitable for making rope[].

A red, transparent, astringent gum is obtained from incisions in the trunk[].

The light brown to red-brown wood is hard, tough, close-grained, elastic and durable[, , ]. It is difficult to work, but turns well and takes polish readily[, ]. It is highly valued in India for making agricultural implements, makes excellent furniture, is useful for carriage building and is also used in construction[, ]. It is also a specialty timber for marine plywood[].
Sandan wood is a good fuel with a calorific value of 4 900-5 200 Kcal/kg[].

Propagation

Seed - to maximize germination, pods should be broken into fragments, each containing one seed, and soaked in water for 24 hours before sowing[]. Seed should be sown 1 cm deep. Germination occurs in 3 - 8 days. Direct sowing is very successful and highly recommended. Nursery-propagation accelerates seedling growth, however the large taproot of sandan makes transplanting difficult[].
The seeds do not retain their viability for long and should be used within 12 months of maturity. Once collected seed should be properly dried and stored in sealed containers. Seeds weigh 28000-33000/kg[].
Division of suckers[].
Propagation by root cuttings is successful, but stem cuttings yield poor results[].

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: what is greater, 5 or 9?