Re: [indiantreepix:5563] Please help

[Mahendra Prasad]

The small disc-ed hard red seeds could be seeds of Rakta Chandan, about 8 mm dia like a flying saucer. Trees can be seen between GPO & Fairlee Place in Kolkata. In season, the road is strewn with these red seeds. The 2nd seed probably is the well-known Ratti, a creeper ), as observed by Anand ji. The seeds were used by goldsmiths in olden days as a measure of weight. 12 ( I think ) Rattis were equal to 1 Masha,  6 ( again not sure ) Mashas were equal to 1 Tola ( which is about 11.7 gm ). ( I am forgetting what we studied in class 4 Arithmetics. ) The Rattis, minature egg-shaped, brilliant scarlet red with a large black spot having a small white dot, are eye-catching, specially if seen in the jungle. I have come across both the rare white & black varieties also. Ratti is Indian Licorice ( not sure ) botanical name Abrus sps(  not sure ). Can give botanical names of both both seeds later. --- On Mon, 27/10/08, Sushmita Jha <sushmi...@gmail.com> wrote: From: Sushmita Jha <sushmi...@gmail.com> Subject: [indiantreepix:5563] Please help To: "indiantreepix" <indian...@googlegroups.com> Date: Monday, 27 October, 2008, 8:40 PM Hello all,   in my childhood in Santiniketan, there used to be a tree which dropped small disc-like hard red seeds. If I recall correctly, the tree resembled a rain tree. Could anyone please help me with the name?   There is another small longish red seed with a black eye - which often used to be used as a weight by goldsmiths. Would appreciate knowing the name of this too.   Since I have no idea of the names, I dont know how to search for them.   Many thanks - and Happy Diwali to all. Sushmita Jha Get perfect Email ID for your Resume. Get before others grab.

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

Ratti is Abrus precatorius. Rakta Chandan is Adenenthera microsperma.

akbhatt

-- Anand Kumar Bhatt A-59, B.S.F.Colony, Airport Road Gwalior. 474 005. Tele: 0751-247 2233. Mobile 0 94253 09780.

[Sushmita Jha]

Thank you all once again.

Best,

Sushmita Jha

[J.M. Garg]

Details of Abrus precatorius with links (containing pictures) from Indiantreepix Database:

Abrus precatorius

Fabaceae

Crab Eyed Creeper, Jequirity, gunj, Rosary Pea, 'John Crow' Bead, Precatory bean, Indian Licorice or Saga Tree

common in areas of SGNP ( Yeoor, Nagla, Tungareshwar & Yeoor ).

Jequirity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ID required for this plant - indiantreepix | Google Groups

Pictures of Adenanthera pavonia (False Red Sandalwood, Bead Tree) at:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2128/2108596778_6892c5fe5e.jpg?v=0, http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Adenanthera%20pavonina/Main.html, http://www.botanypictures.com/plantimages/adenanthera%20pavonina%2005%20menglun%20xtbg.jpg & links with details:http://www.herbsnspicesinfo.com/medicinal-herbs/bead-tree.aspx

Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1
For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en

[Anand Kumar Bhatt]

to continue with Raktachandan, in Seoni  (M.P.) near Nagpur there is about 50 acres of Raktachandan in the forest Dept. which is jealously guarded by them. It appears that a small patch of Raktachandan trees was discovered by the Forest officers a few decades back and since then they have expanded the area.

akbhatt