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Caesalpinia sappan L.

Family Name:	Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Common Name:	Sappan Wood, Brazilwood Tree, Sappan, 苏木

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Herb or Spice

Ornamental Flowers

Drought Tolerant

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))

Biogeography

Native Distribution	South China, Indochina, Malesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Foliage	Leaves stipulate, bipinnate, 20-45cm long 10-20 cm broad, with 8-16 pairs of up to 20 cm long pinnae; pinnae with prickles at the base and with 10-20 pairs of oblong subsessile leaflets, very oblique at base, rounded to emarginated at apex.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: The Chinese use the heartwood to treat bruises and coughing of blood. It is generally given to women after labor. A decoction of the wood is used in many Asian countries to treat problems related to blood, because of its red color. Timber & Products: The wood is used for firewood and timber. The wood has fine texture, heavy, hard and lustrous; it takes high finish and is tough and resistant to termite attach. It is used for inlaying work, cabinet making, violin bows and for walking sticks. The red color decoction from hardwood are used as dye on cotton, silk and wool fabric. Roots give a yellow dye.

Foliage

Leaves stipulate, bipinnate, 20-45cm long 10-20 cm broad, with 8-16 pairs of up to 20 cm long pinnae; pinnae with prickles at the base and with 10-20 pairs of oblong subsessile leaflets, very oblique at base, rounded to emarginated at apex.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Food (Herb or Spice)
Medicinal: The Chinese use the heartwood to treat bruises and coughing of blood. It is generally given to women after labor. A decoction of the wood is used in many Asian countries to treat problems related to blood, because of its red color.
Timber & Products: The wood is used for firewood and timber. The wood has fine texture, heavy, hard and lustrous; it takes high finish and is tough and resistant to termite attach. It is used for inlaying work, cabinet making, violin bows and for walking sticks. The red color decoction from hardwood are used as dye on cotton, silk and wool fabric. Roots give a yellow dye.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	The tree is planted as hedge or boundary.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils
Soil pH Range From	5
Soil pH Range To	7.5
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Compound (Bipinnate)

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Terminal

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Smooth
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Legume / Pod

Mature Seed Colour(s)	Brown
Seed Description	Ellipsoid, flattened.
Seed Quantity Per Fruit	Few (1-5)

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1475
Species ID	2768
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.