Oroxylum indicum is a species of flowering plant, in the monotypic genus Oroxylum in the family Bignoniaceae.[ efloraofindia - Oroxylum indicum] tree of Damocles,[Corner, Wayside trees, loc.cit.] It can reach a height of . Various segments of the tree are used in traditional medicine.[ India Biodiversity Portal – Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz]
Taxonomy
Genetic analysis suggests the closest relative of Oroxylum is the genus Millingtonia; this pair of genera are then probably next most closely related to a clade containing Catalpa and Chilopsis.
Etymology
Its genus name Oroxylum comes from Greek language words ὄρος oros 'mountain' and ξύλον xylon 'wood', and its epithet means "from India".
Description
The tree grows up to tall with a trunk diameter of with grey bark. A mature tree has few branches
The flowers grow from long pedicels at the end of 2-4 cm long , their brown or dirty-violet calyxes are leathery. They have a sharp smell and bloom at night to attract Chiropterophily.[ The seeds are round with papery wings.]
Distribution
Oroxylum indicum is native to the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas with a part extending to Bhutan and southern China, Indochina and the Malesia regions. In Vietnam, the tree is called núc nác (sometimes sò đo), and specimens can be found in Cat Tien National Park.
It is visible in the forest biome of Manas National Park in Assam, India. It is found, raised and planted in large number in the forest areas of the Banswara district in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is reported in the list of rare, endangered and threatened plants of Kerala (South India). It is also found in Sri Lanka[Theobald, W.L. (1981). Bignoniace. In: Dassanayake, M.D. and Fosberg, F.R. (Eds.). A Revised Handbook to the Flora of Ceylon. Amerind Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.] and also in Mizoram.
Ecology
Oroxylum indicum lives in relationship with the actinomycete Pseudonocardia oroxyli present in the soil surrounding the roots.
Phytochemistry
Various segments of O. indicum, including leaves, root bark, duramen, and seeds, contain diverse , such as prunetin, sitosterol, oroxindin, oroxylin-A, biochanin-A, ellagic acid, tetuin, anthraquinone, and emodin.[
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Uses
The tree is often grown as an ornamental plant for its strange appearance. Materials used include the wood, and dyestuffs.
In marriage rituals
The plant is used by the Kirati people, Sunwar people, Rai people, Limbu people, Yakkha people, Tamang people in Nepal, the Thai People in Thailand and the Lao People in Laos.
In the Himalayas, people hang sculptures or made from O. indicum (Skr. shyonaka) seeds from the roof of their homes in belief they provide protection.
Culinary Use
It is a plant with edible leaves, flower buds, pods and stems.[ Thai Dishes, Central Part And South ] Known as karongkandai among the Bodos of north east India, its flowers and fruit are eaten as a bitter side dish with rice. Its fruit are eaten as a side dish and water of boiled leave and bark as traditional medicine in Mizoram. It is known in Mizoram as Archangkawm. It is often prepared with fermented or dried fish and believed by them to have medicinal uses. The pods also eaten by Chakma people in Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh and India. Its called "Hona Gulo 𑄦𑄧𑄚 𑄉𑄪𑄣𑄮" in Chakma language.
The plant is used as food by the Karen people. The flower buds are boiled and pickled. The young pods are cut open raw and the tender seeds inside are used in various local dishes.
In traditional medicine
Oroxylum indicum seeds are used in traditional Indian Ayurveda and Chinese medicines.[ Root bark is one of the ingredients thought to be useful in compound formulations in Ayurveda and other folk remedies.][Jayaweera, D.M.A. (1981). Medicinal Plants (Indigenous and Exotic) Used in Ceylon. Part I (Acanthaceae – Burseraceae). National Science Council of Sri Lanka, Colombo.]
In art
Kelantanese and Javanese people peoples forge a type of keris in the shape of the plant's seed pod called the keris buah beko.
In mythology
Because the pods are shaped like swords, people in West Java believe planting Oroxylum trees can protect their homes from thieves.
The Onge language name for the tree is talaralu.
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See also
