Saraca asoca

Saraca asoca

Know our Plant

Systematic Classification:

Division   : Angiospermae 
Class      : Dicotyledons
Order      : Fabales
Family     : Fabaceae
Genus      : Saraca
Species    : asoca

Common Name:

Ashok tree, Ashokam, Hemapushpam

General Information:

Saraca asoca is an important tree in the cultural traditions of the Indian subcontinent and adjacent areas. The flower of Ashoka tree is the state flower of Indian state of Odisha. Small trees, up to 5 m tall.Trunk often tubercled; bark lenticellate, dark, shallowly fissured; blaze purplish.Branchlets terete, glabrous.Leaves compound, paripinnate, alternate, distichous; stipules caducous; rachis pulvinate, 7-30 cm long; petiolule 0.1-0.6 cm long; leaflets opposite, 4-6 (-12) pairs, lamina 6-31 x 1.5-9 cm, narrow elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate, base acute to rounded or subcordate, subcoriaceous, glabrous; midrib raised above; secondary nerves ca. 11 pairs, looped; tertiary nerves reticulate.Inflorescence dense corymbs; flowers orange, sometimes white; fragrant.Fruit and Seed-Pod, flat, oblong, to 15 x 4.5 cm, apiculate; seeds obovate-orbiculate.

Economic Importance:

  • The bark is a very popular herb in Ayurveda, where it is said to be particularly useful for treating the female reproductive system.
  • It is strongly astringent and a uterine sedative. It is said to have a stimulating effect on uterine and ovarian tissue. It is said to be useful in the treatment of several ailments including menstrual cramps; some cases of uterine bleeding; uterine fibroids; haemorrhoids, and internal bleeding.
  • The bark contains tannins and catechol.