About Pterocarpus santalinus L.f.
Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. is a small, light-demanding tree that reaches 8 metres (26 feet) in height, with a trunk between 50 and 150 centimetres (20 to 59 inches) in diameter. It grows quickly when young, and can reach 5 metres (16 feet) tall in three years even when growing on degraded soils. It cannot tolerate frost, and is killed by temperatures of −1 °C (30 °F). Its leaves are alternate, 3–9 cm (1.2–3.5 in) long, and trifoliate with three leaflets. This species produces flowers arranged in short racemes. Its fruit is a pod 6–9 cm (2.4–3.5 in) long that holds one or two seeds. In traditional herbal medicine, Pterocarpus santalinus is used as an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, tonic, and diaphoretic, and for managing hemorrhage, dysentery. It is also used as an aphrodisiac and anti-hyperglycaemic agent.
