ACACIA CATECHU (Leguminoseae) Cutch Tree Khair This tree is found in the drier regions of the Sub-Himalayan tract form the River Indus to Assam, and in Nepal it occurs at low altitudes from the Terai about 900 meters, it is also widespread in the dry regions of East and Central Arfica. In this part of the world the tree is found often in association with Bombax ceiba (Simal), Albixia species (Siris) and Dalbergia sisoo (Sisoo), especially in the Siwaliks. It is fairly common in Chitwan. Khair is a deciduous trees of moderate size. It has a feathery crown, and the branchlets are armed with pairs of short, curved, nearly black, spines. The bark is rough, dark grey or grayish-brown, and tends to peel off in narrow strips. The leaves, which are alternately arranged on the twigs, are doubly compound (bi-pinnate) and between 10 and 17 cm long. They are divided into between 20 and 60 pairs of pinnae, each of which is again divided into between 30 and 50 pairs of very small (about 0.2 cm long), strap-shaped leaflets. The main leaf stalk is prickly. The flowers, which appear in May or June, are pale yellow or cream, fragrant, and hang loosely in cylindrical spiky formations. As a matter of interest the flowers of the Acacias are of two arrangements, either in spikes as in this tree, or in pom-poms as in the Green Wattle. The pods, which ripen in November or thereabouts, are about 7 cm long, straight, flat, dark brown, and so on stalks. Each pod contains 5 or 6 round, flat, dark brown seeds. The wood is used for agricultural implements, house building, wheels, oil seed crushers, rice pestles and sword handles, it makes quite a good fuel, and the charcoal from it is the best sort for blacksmiths. The pod have a high protein content and are relished by wild animals, and they make a good cattle feed. Unlike many other Acacias this one does not contain prussic acid, so the pods and leaves are safe for animals. It is from Khair that the famous Indian ‘Cutch’ is made by boiling down chips of the heartwood. ‘Cutch’ is a black gum resin, thick and syrupy, which is astringent and is extensively used for dyeing and tanning. It is also used to make medicines such as cooling tonics, cures for sore throats and skin complaints, and for digestive disorders. A form is ‘Cutch’ is used in india for chewing with ‘betel’ leaf. Finally a valuable gum, resembling gum Arabic, can be made from this substance.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 11:12:56 +0000
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