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Acacia chundra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Mimosoideae
Genus:	Acacia
Species:	A. chundra
Binomial name
Acacia chundra (Rottler) Willd.
Range of Acacia chundra
Synonyms
Acacia catechu auct. non Willd. Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. var. sundra (Roxb.)Prain Acacia sundra (Roxb.) DC. Mimosa chundra Rottler[1]

Acacia chundra is a perennial, deciduous tree found in Asia, India and in the Indian Ocean area. It grows 12 m to 15 m in height.^[2]

Common names for it include Karangali, Kodalimurunkai, Lal Khair, Lal Khair, Rat Kihiriya and Red Cutch.

Its uses include chemical products, medicine and wood.

Uses

The wood is used for certain applications in shipbuilding.^[3] The tree is used for timber, for cutch (catechutannic acid)^[4] from its wood and for tannin. It is also used as food for bees.^[5]

Kheersal is found as a white substance in the tree's wood. It has medicinal uses including the treatment of painful throat and cough. Katha is employed in astringent products and is used to promote digestion. It is also used to sooth infection and severe irritations of the skin.^[4]

Cutch is sought after commercially as a dye and to preserve fabrics from weather, mildew and marine exposure.^[4]

Conservation

A. chundra is "moderately threatened" and in India it is now necessary to get a permit before cutting this tree down.^[6]

References

1. ^ International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS)
2. ^ Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
3. ^ FAO
4. ^ ^{a b c} Cutch and Katha
5. ^ Sources of Bee Forage in India
6. ^ Biodiversity Information System Plants of Western Ghats