Vijayasara / Indian Kino Tree
Pterocarpus marsupium
Also known as Malabara Kino Tree, Almug, Saunderswood, Bastard Teak, East Indian Kino, Gammalu, Kino
- Habit
- Tree
- Found in India
- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra & more
- Flowering
- March-November
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Pterocarpus marsupium
- Genus
- Pterocarpus
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Habitat
- Deciduous forests, also in the plains
- Habitat type
- Forest
- Native to
- India, Sri Lanka
- Distribution
- India, Sri Lanka
- Found in India
- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand
- Flowering & fruiting
- March-November
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (VU)
Leaf characters
- Leaf type
- Pinnately compound (leaflets in rows along a stalk)recorded
- Leaf surface
- Glabrous (smooth, hairless)recorded
Typical of the family
- Arrangement
- Alternate
Characters marked “recorded” are for Vijayasara itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family.
Flower & fruit characters
- Flower colour
- Yellowrecorded
Typical of the family
- Flower symmetry
- Zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical)
- Inflorescence
- Raceme
- Fruit
- Legume
Characters marked “recorded” are for Vijayasara itself; the rest are typical of the Fabaceae family — flowering plants only.
Local Names
- Hindi
- विजयसार Vijayasara, बीज पत्ता Beeja patta, Bijasal,विजयसार vijayasar
- Nepali
- बिजय साल Bijaya Saal
- Tamil
- Vengai, Accamai, Accanapann, வேங்கை
- Telugu
- Aine, Asana, Beddagi
- Kannada
- ಹೊನ್ನೆ Honne, ಬೆಂಗೆ Benge, ಬಿಂಗೆ Binge
- Malayalam
- Venga, Honne, Karintakara
- Marathi
- Asaaha, Asan, Asana, बिबला
Vijayasara in India
This deciduous tree, known as विजयसार Vijayasara (Hindi), Vengai (Tamil), Aine (Telugu), ಹೊನ್ನೆ Honne (Kannada), Venga (Malayalam), Asaaha (Marathi), is valued for both its resin and its timber. Pterocarpus marsupium is found across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, typically in dry deciduous forest.
Uses
A dark red resin (kino gum) that oozes from cuts in the bark has a long history of traditional Ayurvedic use — an attributed traditional use, not a medical claim — and the tree's strong, durable heartwood has been used for furniture and construction.
How to Identify Vijayasara
A large deciduous tree with compound leaves made of several oval leaflets. Clusters of small yellow, fragrant pea-like flowers appear before or with the new leaves, followed by flat, round, winged pods that each carry a single seed.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Indian Kino Tree called in different Indian languages?
- विजयसार Vijayasara (Hindi); Vengai (Tamil); Aine (Telugu); ಹೊನ್ನೆ Honne (Kannada); Venga (Malayalam); Asaaha (Marathi).
- What is kino gum?
- It's the dark red resin that oozes from cuts in the bark of Pterocarpus marsupium, with a long history of traditional use.
- Is bijasal related to rosewood?
- Yes — it belongs to the same genus (Pterocarpus) as several rosewoods, and shares their generally hard, durable timber.
Fabaceae
Legume/Bean family
Vijayasara belongs to the Fabaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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Common plant problems
All plant problem & care guides →More in Fabaceae
View all Fabaceae →Sources: GBIF — Pterocarpus marsupium (India distribution & vernacular names) (CC BY 4.0) · Wikipedia — Pterocarpus marsupium (background/comprehension only) (CC BY-SA 4.0)