Common Names: Vettupala, Pala indigo, Sweet indrajao
Flowering Period: February-November
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Description
Sweet Indrajao is a small, deciduous tree with a light Gray, scaly smooth bark.
Native to India and Burma.
From a distance, the white flowers may appear like snowflakes on a tree.
The fruits pendulous, long paired follicles joined at their tips. The hairy seeds are released as the fruit dehisces.
The leaves of this tree yield a blue dye called Pala Indigo. Supposedly a few drops of its sap in milk prevent curdling and enhance its shelf life, without the need to refrigerate.
uses:
It is made into cups, plates, combs, pen holders, pencils and bed stead legs.
The leaves are applied as a poultice for mumps and herpes and sometimes, they are also munched to relieve toothache.
The bark and seeds are effective against psoriasis and non-specific dermatitis. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-dandruff properties and hence is used in hair oil preparations.