FLAME OF THE FOREST

BUTEA MONOSPERMA
Syn. B. frondosa
Fam. Leguminosae. Sub fam. Papilonaceae. Chichra tesu, desuka jhad, dhak, palas, chalcha, kankrei (Hind.); Palashpapra (Urdu); Muthuga (Can.); Palas, polashi (Beng.); Porasum, parasu (Tam.); Muriku, Shamata (Mal); Modugu (Tel.); Khakda (Guj.); Kela (Sinh.); Flame of the Forest, Parrot Tree (Eng.)
THE Flame of the Forest is a medium-sized tree, growing from 6 to 12 m.high, and the trunk is usually crooked and twisted with irregular branches and rough, grey bark. It is seen in all its ugliness in December and January when most of the leaves fall: but from January to March it truly becomes a tree of flame, a lot of orange and vermilion flowers covering the entire crown. These flowers, which are scentless, are massed along the ends of the stalks — dark, velvety green like the cup-shaped calices — and the brilliance of the stiff, bright flowers is shown off to perfection by this deep, contrasting colour. Each flower consists of five petals comprising one standard, two smaller wings and a very curved beak-shaped keel. It is this keel which gives it the name of Parrot Tree. 

That the flowers contain much nectar is evidenced by the frequent visits of many species of birds; sunbirds, mynahs and babblers are usually to be seen, hurrying from flower to flower, chattering and twittering. To the lac insect it is a most important tree, providing a plentiful supply of lac. With man, also, the tree is very popular, having numerous uses. From an infusion of the flowers a brilliant colouring matter can be obtained which may be made into water-paint or into a dye. Cotton, prepared with alum, can be dyed a bright yellow or orange.

A rare yellow variety of the Flame of the Forest is sometimes found in India. Butea monosperma is named after the Earl of Bute, a patron on Botany and monosperma, meaning “having one seed”. Frondosa means “leafy”. It is a native of India, most common in Central India, and the Western Ghats, but also found in the dry, coal districts of Bengal and Bihar and to some
extent in the Uttar Pradesh, the Punjab and east to Burma.