Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Schleichera oleosa

Syn. Pistacia oleosa

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Ceylon oak (English)
  • Kusum (Hindi)
  • Kosumb (Gujarati)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Sapindaceae
10m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Schleichera oleosa bark

Bark

Bark grey to dark brown, rough, slightly fissured; inner bark reddish; young branches can be pubescent.

Schleichera oleosa leaves

Leaves

Leaves pinnate with 2–4 pairs of large leathery leaflets; leaflets oblong to elliptic; young leaves emerge red or coppery.

Schleichera oleosa flower

Flower

Small yellowish-green flowers in clusters (panicles) appearing on leafless branches during February– April; tree flushes new leaves after flowering.

Schleichera oleosa fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Ovoid to round 2–3 valved capsule; green turning yellowish-brown when ripe; splits to reveal seeds. Usually one to three large seeds enclosed in an orange-red fleshy aril; seeds rich in oil.

Schleichera oleosa

Did you know?

Known as kusum, it is an important host tree for lac insects, which produce the resin used to make shellac and related products. This tree is the absolute preferred host for the microscopic Kerria lacca insect.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Indian Subcontinent to Indo-China, Central & S. Malesia