Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. (Red sanders)

Description:

Family: FabaceaeLocal name(Telugu): Erra chandanm or Rakta chandanam,Red SandersDistribution: Found only in a limited area. Endemic to southern parts of Eastren ghats of Peninsular India.Photographed at Velugonda hills of Eastern ghats.Found in rock crevices of the hilly area.This plant is in red list ; Listed as an endangered plant by BSI and IUCN; As the wood is highily valuable the plants are decreased in number in wild. Included in Appendix II of CITES . Trade of wood, logs, powder and extracts is a punishable crime.Moderate sized tree. Bark blackish-brown,deeply cleft in to rectangular plates, wood extremely hard, reddish black. Leaves alternate, 1-3 foliate,coriaceous,leaf-lets ovate-orbicular, Flowers yellow in terminal racemes or panicles.Calyx short, companulate, sub connate, curved; Corolla 5, standard orbicular, crisped, wings oblique, keels small and oblique; stamens 10, in two bundles of 5 each, ovary sessile, 2-6 ovuled; Pod with a broad wing, compressed, orbicular.