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SAL
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malvales
Family: Dipterocarpaceae
Species: S. robusta
Common name: Sal
Origin: India
Economic importance
Sal wood ranks with teak and deodar as one of the best
sleeper woods in India; and in great demand in the form of
bellies and poles. After treatment, the poles are suitable for
overhead electric, telegraph, and telephone lines. As
domestic timber it is used for beams, scantlings, rafters, and
floors, also used for piles, mine work and pit-props , bridges,
dug- out boats, carriage and wagon buildings, spokes, fellows,
and hubs of wheels, agricultural implements, tool handles,
tent pegs, liquid storage vats, and beer and oil casks. Spent
bark is suitable for the production of boards and isolation of
cellulose.
Economic importance contd…..
Tree yields an oleoresin called Sal Dammar or Bengal Dammar
(Laldhuna ral, dhup, guggal) used as incense and also employed
in paints and varnishes, and for caulking boats. It has been
employed for hardening softer waxes for use in shoe-polishes,
and for carbon papers and ribbons. Medicinally used as an
astringent in diarrhoea and dysentery. Sal resin yields an
essential oil called Chua oil, used as a fixative, and for flavouring
chewing as well as smoking tobacco; also employed for ear
troubles and cutaneous diseases.
Seeds eaten after roasting; yield fatty oil, Sal butter, used locally
for cooking and lighting and as an adulterant of ghee; also
suitable as a substitute for cocoa butter in the manufacture of
chocolates. Cake can be used as a feed for cattle and poultry.
Cultural importance
Sal tree is worshiped among the Buddhist and Hindus in
India. It is mentioned in many scriptures that the Buddha
was born and died under the Sal tree. A branch of the tree
bend down to support his mother Maya and as soon as he
held on the tree, the baby appeared. Sal tree has special
significance in the festivals and marriages of Adivasi. A pole
of the Sal tree is considered very important and unless the
bridegroom sits on the altar made of tree of Sal, the
marriage has no meaning. It also holds great value in the
lives of the indigenous populance of Chotanagpur plateau. It
is the main attraction of the festival of Sarhul, which means
Sal Blossoms Festival. The whole festival revolves round the
Sal tree.
Distribution and propagation
Shorea robusta is widely distributed in India, Nepal and
Bhutan. In India, the species is distributed from Himachal
Pradesh to Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa, Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh extending
further to the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh18,19; and it
is dominantly distributed on the plains and lower foothills
of the Himalayas and also along the valleys20. S. robusta
propogates naturally through seed and coppice. Direct
sowing is the cheapest and best method of artificial planting
Botanical characteristics
Shorea robusta is a large, deciduous tree up to 50 m tall
and with a dbh of 5 m; these are exceptional sizes, and
under normal conditions S. robusta trees attain a height of
about 18-32 m and girths of 1.5-2 m; bole is clean, straight
and cylindrical, but often bearing epicormic branches;
crown is spreading and spherical. Bark dark brown and
thick, with longitudinal fissures deep in poles, becoming
shallow in mature trees; provides effective protection
against fire. The tree develops a long taproot at a very early
age.
Botanical characteristics contd….
Leaves simple, shiny, glabrous, about 10-25
cm long and broadly oval at the base, with the apex
tapering into a long point; new leaves reddish, soon
becoming delicate green. Flowers yellowish-white,
arranged in large terminal or axillary racemose
panicles.
Fruit at full size about 1.3-1.5 cm long and 1 cm in
diameter; it is surrounded by segments of the calyx
enlarged into 5 rather unequal wings about 5-7.5 cm
long
Properties of sal wood
The wood is distinctly differentiated into sap wood and heart
wood. The sap wood is pale grayish in color while the heart
wood is very hard , heavy , extremely tough and brown to
reddish brown in color. The wood is immune to mites and
termites and fungi. The average weight of heart wood is
855kg/m at 12%moisture content. It is cross grained and coarse
textured. It is diffuse porous with indistinct growth rings.
Vertical gum ducts are present in the wood in long tangential
bands.
Traditional use
Shorea robusta has been traditionally used for various ailments.
The leaves and bark are used to treat wounds, ulcers,
leprosy, cough, gonorrhoea, earache and headache. The bark
is also used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and vaginal
discharges. The fruits are useful in tubercular ulcers,
seminal weakness, burning sensation and dermopathy. The
oleoresin exuded from the plant has astringent, carminative
and stomachic properties. It is useful in vitiated conditions
of pitta, wounds, ulcers, neuralgia, burns, fractures, fever,
diarrhoea, dysentery, splenomegaly, obesity and burning of
the eyes. In Unani medicine, the resin is used for treating
menorrhagia, enlargement of spleen and for relieving eye
irritation. In Ayurveda, it is used with honey or sugar in
treatment of dysentery and bleeding piles. It is also given
in gonorrhea and for weak digestion. It is suggested for
ulcers, wounds and menopausal disorders by Siddha practioners.
SAL FOREST
SAL TREE
SAL LEAVES
SAL FLOWERS
SAL LEAVES IN USE
SAL SEEDS
SAL WOOD