Caesalpinia sappan

Caesalpinia sappan
Leaves and fruits
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Caesalpinia
Species:	C. sappan
Binomial name
Caesalpinia sappan L.

Caesalpinia sappan is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is native to Southeast Asia and the Malay archipelago. Common names include Sappanwood, Sapanwood, Patanga-Chekke Sappanga (Kannada), Pathimukham (Malayalam), and Suō (Japanese). Sappanwood belongs to the same genus as Brazilwood (C. echinata), and was originally called "brezel wood" in Europe.

Disease : Twig dieback (Lasiodiplodia theobromae)

This plant has many uses. It possesses medicinal abilities as an antibacterial and for its anticoagulant properties. It also produces a valued type of reddish dye called brazilin, used for dyeing fabric as well as making red paints and inks. Slivers of heartwood are used for making herbal drinking water in Kerala. Heartwood also contains juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), also an active antimicrobial principle. Homoisoflavonoids (sappanol, episappanol, 3'-deoxysappanol, 3'-O-methylsappanol, 3'-O-methylepisappanol and sappanone A) can also be found in C. sappan.

The wood is somewhat lighter in color than Brazilwood and its other allies, but the same tinctorial principle appears to be common to all. Sappanwood was a major trade good during the 17th century, when it was exported from Southeast Asian nations (especially Siam) aboard red seal ships to Japan.

Bark

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Caesalpinia sappan at Wikispecies