True Ashoka Tree

Saraca indica

Name

Marathi: सीता अशोक
Hindi: सीता अशोक

Biological Classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Spermatophyta
Sub-Division: Angiospermae
Class: Dicotyledonae
Sub-Class: Polypetalae
Series: Calyciflorae
Order: Rosales
Family: Leguminosae
Sub-Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Genus: Saraca
Species: indica

Advantages

  • It is one of the most sacred having cultural and religious significance, In Maharashtra it is worshipped on the 13th Day of the month of Chaitra.
  • The bark decoction is much used in uterine infections and especially in menorrhagia.

Interesting Facts

  • In the epic Ramayana, Goddess Sita, God Rama's wife was believed to have taken refuge under the Ashoka tree while in captivity in Lanka.
  • It has great medicinal value and is the True Ashoka tree, the False one being Monoon longifolium.

Cluster Mapping with trees

Cluster Name Tree Numbers
POLYTECHNIC 196, 201, 204, 207, 211, 214, 217, 223, 224, 227, 230, 233, 235, 237, 239, 240, 242, 244, 251, 281, 282, 285, 289, 291, 293, 295, 297, 300, 302, 304, 307, 312, 320, 322, 325, 330, 333, 337, 337, 344, 347, 352
TSS, SANSKRITIVIHAR 24, 27, 29, 30, 32, 35, 36, 38, 41, 45, 49, 58, 59, 61, 175, 176, 177, 179, 180, 184, 187, 306, 307
ARTS COMMERCE, SCIENCE COMMERCE AND AUROBINDO 45
SIMSR 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 305, 309
EKLAVYA 79, 81, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 95, 99, 102
RG-4 28, 42, 44, 45, 47, 49
ENGINEERING COLLEGE 52, 54, 58, 60, 62

Description

  • It is a small evergreen tree with paripinnate leaves.
  • The flowers are yellow to orange and bloom in the months of January to May.
  • Saraca indica L.