Bija

Morphology, cultivation and use

1. Bija Dr. V. I. Kahalkar Department of Botany M. G. College, Armori

2. Bija Botanical name :- Pterocarpus marsupium   Family :- Fabaceae Local Name :- Bija / Indian Kino Origin & Distribution – The tree yields a red gum known as ' kino '. It is obtained from wounds made in the bark. It is native to India. It is also occur in Western Ghat , Karnataka, Maharashtra and in the forest of centreal India. It is also found in Nepal and Shrilanka .

3. Botanical Description The large deciduous, glabrous trees . Leaves imparipinnate compound, leaflets 5-9, sub-opposite, entire margin. Flowers in short, axillary and terminal panicles shorter than the leaves; pedicels short, jointed beneath the flower. yellow . Corolla yellow, 10–12 mm long; petals with crisped margins. Pods orbicular 1-2 seeded. Seeds reniform, pale brown.

4. Botanical Description Tree Flower Pod

5. Cultivation The tree are propagated from seed. Seedling are raised in nursery beds or in polythene bags. Seed beds are well manure. The seed sowing time in most of the region extend from first March to June. The seedling are ready for transplantation in 10 to 12 month after sowing. The seedlings are transplanted after 12 months in the field. The planting is generally done in rainy season.

6. Uses The wood is strong, tough, very hard, durable, takes a fine polish. A good quality wood, it is used for various purposes including musical instruments, door and window frames, boat building, railway carriages etc. The wood is used for building purpose such as door, window frames, rafters, beams. It is also used in agriculture implements, drums, tools handles, camp furniture, picture frame. The leaves are often applied externally as a remedy for skin diseases. The maintenance of a healthy blood sugar level is one of the most common reasons for taking pterocarpus . (Practitioners of the Ayurveda system often use a cup made from the heartwood of pterocarpus . They fill the cup with water and allow it to stand overnight. Volatile oils in the wood leach into the water, turning it blue. This water is then drunk the next day)

7. THANK YOU