- Butea monosperma is a moderate sized deciduous tree native to tropical regions of South Asia. It is commonly known as Palas. - The tree has trifoliate leaves that are ovate, entire, glabrous above and densely grey and silky beneath. It produces orange-red bisexual flowers in dense racemes. - Cultivation involves sowing seeds in nurseries from June to July. Seedlings are ready for transplantation after 8-10 months and are generally planted during the rainy season. The gum of B. monosperma is used as an astringent and substitute for kino, and in tannin production.

1. GUM Yielding Plant
Butea monosperma
Dr. Vasanta I. Kahalkar
Assistant Professor
Department of Botany
M. G. College, Armori

2. Butea monosperma
• Botanical Name :Butea monosperma
• Family : Fabaceae
• Local Name : Palas
• Origin and Distribution :
It is native to tropical and subtropical parts
of Indian subcontinent and south east Asia,
ranging across the India Bangladesh, Nepal,
Shrilanka, Thailand, Combodea, Malesea and
western Indonesia. In India, it is found in all the
state Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya
Pradesh.

3. Butea monosperma

4. Botanical Description
• A moderate size tree, found throughout the India
external in the North West Himalaya as for as Jhelum.
• A moderate deciduous tree, branched. Leaves
compound, trifoliate, entire, ovate, petiolate, margin
entire. glabrous above, densely grey silky beneath.
Flowers in dense racemes orange- red colour,
bisexual. Calyx densely velvety outside, clothed with
silky hairs within. Stamen 10. Gynaecium
monocarpellary. Fruit single seeded.

5. Cultivation
• Seeds sowing in nurseries. Trees are
propagated from seeds. Seedling are raised in
nursery beds or in polythene bags. The seed
beds are well manure. Seeds sowing time in
most of the region extend from first week of
June to last week of July. The seedling are
ready for transplantation 8 -10 month after
sowing. The seedlings are transplanted after
08-10 month in field. The planting is generally
done in rainy season.

6. Use of Gum
• The gum of Butea is used as asteringent, a
substitute for Kino
• It is also used in tannin.

7. THANK YOU