Trees
Tecomella undulata Seem.
Tecomella undulata Seem.
Description :
A small-sized deciduous tree. Heights of
12 m and diameters of 0.5 to 0.8 m are not uncommon. Leaves are opposite,
simple and 3 to 9.5 cm long. The flowers are pale yellow to orange and appear
in dense clusters from February to May. The fruit is a capsule or pod 17 to 34
cm long. The pods mature between April and July. It has no known insect or
disease problems. It can be reproduced from seed. The seeds are winged, 2 cm
long and broad. It is a very slow growing tree. Diameters of 5 to 8 cm in five
years are not uncommon. Grains are straight, medium coarse and somewhat even
textured. Wood is strong, resilient having specific gravity of 0.57 to 0.83.
Distribution :
The tree is native to Pakistan, India and
Afghanistan. In Pakistan it occurs in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KP.
Planted along roads and canals. A moderately intolerant tree that grows on a
variety of soils and sites. It requires a precipitation zone of 200 to 1200
mm/yr. It prefers an arid, semi-arid, hot sub-tropical winter monsoon climate
with a temperature range of 0 to 45°C on elevations up to 1200 m. It is frost
and drought hardy.
Uses :
This very drought resistant tree has
potential as a commercial cover crop on arid and semi-arid tracts of land that
are now without vegetation. It is an attractive ornamental. It is also used for
fuel, ornamental, furniture and carving, medicinal (flowers as a vermifuge) and
agricultural implements purposes.