Khair (Acacia catechu)

[J.M. Garg]

On15/6/08 at Vanasthalipuram Deer Park in Hyderabad, AP.

 

Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu

Acacia catechu is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15m in height.^[2] Common names for it include Catechu, Cachou and Black Cutch. It is found in Asia, China, India and the Indian Ocean area.^[1]

Food

The tree's seeds are a good source of protein.^[3]

Fodder

Branches of the tree are quite often cut for goat fodder and are sometimes fed to cattle.^[3]

Wood

The tree is often planted for use as firewood and its wood is highly valued for furniture and tools.^[2] The wood has a density of about 0.88 g/cm³.^[4]

Other uses

Its heartwood extract is used in dyeing, leather tanning, as a preservative for fishing nets, for medicine and as a viscosity regulator for oil drilling.^[2]

Cultivation

The tree can be propagated by planting its seeds, which are soaked in hot water first. After about six months in a nursery, the seedlings can be planted in the field.^[2]

--
With regards,
J.M.Garg
"We often ignore the beauty around us"
For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en
For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees, Landscape pictures etc., visit http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg

[Chandramohan Reddy]

This is a common tree of thorny scrub jungles of A.P. In some
literature it is given that it is a variety of A.catechu of North
India and it was regarded as A.catechu var. sundra. In the recent
literature it is considered as different species i.e. Acacia chundra
(Also A.sundra). (Sundra is the local telugu name of the plant). It
requires clarification. Further there is slight difference in the
morphology in the North Indian and South indian varieties. (It may be
due to the climatic and edaphic factors also). I dont think that the
south indian variety is used for extracting commercial 'Cutch' /
'Kath'

On Jun 18, 6:35 pm, "J.M. Garg" <jmga...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On15/6/08 at Vanasthalipuram Deer Park in Hyderabad, AP.
>
> Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu
>

> *Acacia catechu* is a deciduous, thorny tree which grows up to 15m in
> height.[2] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-fao-1>Common
> names for it include
> *Catechu*, *Cachou* and *Black Cutch*. It is found in
> Asia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia>,
> China <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China>,
> India<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>and the Indian
> Ocean <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean>
> area.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-ILDIS-0>

> Food
>
> The tree's seeds are a good source of

> protein<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein>
> .[3] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-world-2>
>
> Fodder
>
> Branches of the tree are quite often cut <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cut>for
> goat <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat>
> fodder<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fodder>and are sometimes fed to
> cattle <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle>.[3]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-world-2>

>
> Wood
>
> The tree is often planted for use as

> firewood<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewood>and its wood is highly
> valued for
> furniture <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furniture> and
> tools.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-fao-1>The

> wood has a density of about 0.88 g/cm³.

> [4] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-3>
>
> Other uses
>
> Its heartwood <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartwood>
> extract<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extract>is used in
> dyeing <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyeing>,
> leather<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leather>
> tanning <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning>, as a
> preservative<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preservative>for fishing
> nets <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishing_net>, for medicine and as a
> viscosity <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscosity> regulator for oil
> drilling <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_drilling>.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-fao-1>

>
> Cultivation
>
> The tree can be propagated by planting its seeds, which are soaked in hot
> water first. After about six months in a nursery, the seedlings can be

> planted in the field.[2]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_catechu#cite_note-fao-1>

>
> --
> With regards,
> J.M.Garg
> "We often ignore the beauty around us"
> For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group

> (Indiantreepix)http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

> For my Birds, Butterflies, Trees, Landscape pictures etc., visithttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/J.M.Garg
>

>  Khair (Acacia catechu) flowers at Hyderabad, AP I IMG_7261.jpg
> 213KViewDownload
>
>  Khair (Acacia catechu) leaves & flowers at Hyderabad, AP I IMG_7262.jpg
> 204KViewDownload
>
>  Khair (Acacia catechu) leaves & fruits at Hyderabad, AP I IMG_7263.jpg
> 232KViewDownload
>
>  Khair (Acacia catechu) trunk at Hyderabad, AP I IMG_7264.jpg
> 209KViewDownload

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

It is surprising. I frankly do not remember whether chewing paan laced with katha is a native habit in south India or not. Probably some member who is a forester may be able to clarify whether south Indian catechu tree can be or is used for katha extraction. The value of this tree in north India is mainly on account of this. It is also surprising that Wilkepedia does not mention katha extraction as one of its uses!

akbhatt