Adenanthera pavonina Linn., Sp.Pl. 384. 1753. Baker in Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 2:287.1878; Cooke,Fl.Bomb.Pres. Rep. ed. l:466.1958.
A large deciduous tree, bark pale pinkish grey. Leaves bipinnate, up to 24 cm long, rachis c. 10-40 cm long, petiole c. 5-10 cm long, pinnae opposite, 2-6 pairs, c. 7-12 cm long, leaflets 7-15 pairs, sessile, alternate, obovate, l.5-4.0 cm long, 5-25 mm broad, margins slightly curved backwards, base unequal. Inflore¬scence axillary and terminal raceme, c. 7.5-15 cm long. Flower pedicellate, pedicel 3.5-4.0 cm long. Calyx 5, gamosepalous, 5 toothed, c. 1 mm long. Corolla pale yellow, c. 2.5-3 mm long, petals united at the base. Stamens 10, free, hardly exserted, anthers with a gland at the tip. Fruit a pod, curved, becomes coiled after dehiscence, 10-22.5 cm long, c.7-10 mm broad. Seeds many, bright red in colour, like beads, c. 7-8 mm wide.
Fl. Per. March-May.
Type: Ceylon, Herman, (BM, Lecto.!).
Distribution: It is distributed mainly in India, South-east China and Malaysia to the Moluccas, cultivated in Karachi.
The timber is used as a substitute for red sandalwood and the bright red polished seeds are used as weights and for making beads.