TreeWildPerennialMedicinal

Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex DC.

Tahli · Sheesham

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Description

Dalbergia sissoo is a medium to large deciduous tree, usually 10–25 m tall, with a broad spreading crown and a strong woody trunk. The bark is greyish-brown, rough, and deeply fissured in mature trees. Leaves are pinnately compound, alternate, and typically consist of 3–5 leaflets. Leaflets are ovate to elliptic, 3–8 cm long, leathery, with entire margins, rounded bases, and pointed apices. Flowers are small, bisexual, fragrant, and arranged in axillary branched panicles. The flowers are white to pale yellow and possess the typical papilionaceous structure. Fruits are thin, flat, indehiscent pods, usually 4–8 cm long, containing one to four kidney-shaped seeds visible through the pod wall.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Tree with trifoliate or few-leaflet leaves. Dark grey fissured bark. Strong hardwood.

Floral

Small white-yellow pea flowers. Panicles from leaf axils.

Fruit & Seed

Flat papery pods. Seeds clearly visible.

Distribution

Native range: Native to Indian subcontinent.

In Pakistan: Common in Pakistan, India, Nepal. Widely planted, Irrigated plantations, Roadsides.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: February–April Fruiting: May–July

Ethnobotany & Uses

Timber Importance

One of the most valuable timber trees of South Asia. Wood is used for Furniture, Doors and windows, Flooring, Agricultural implements.

Medicinal Importance

Bark used for Fever, Digestive disorders, Skin problems. Leaves used for Wound treatment. Contains Isoflavonoids, Phenolics, Tannins.

Ecological Importance

Nitrogen-fixing tree. Important riverine forest species. Provides habitat for birds.

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Where it grows on campus

South Campus9West Campus6East-South-East Campus2North-North-West Campus19North-East Campus7

individuals mapped across 5 zones

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Taxonomic Notes

Dalbergia sissoo is the most important timber species of the genus in Pakistan and India. It is distinguished from related species by Few large leaflets, Strong timber, Flat pods, UniFlora Field Recognition Tip 🌿. Look for 🌳 Large hardwood tree, 🍃 Few broad leaflets.