Family: Calophyllaceae
Common name: Ironwood Tree, Ceylon ironwood, Cobra saffron, Ironwood, Indian Rose Chestnut, Iron wood of Assam, Poached egg tree, Nagas tree, Iron wood tree, Na tree, Diya Na, Nagasari, Gajapushpa, Nag-kesar, Nag champa, Churuli, Nagapoovu, Nagpushpa, Velutha pala, Rajapushpa
Ironwood tree or Indian rose chestnut is a strong, majestic tree that is native to India and Southeast Asia. They are most commonly seen in warm and humid regions of India, Sri Lanka, and other tropical countries, near lakes, streams, and other waterbodies.
Tree characteristics
Ironwood trees can grow to height of up to 30 meters with a strong, cylindrical, often buttressed trunk that can be about 1 meter in diameter. The bark is greyish-brown with a rough texture.
The crown could be rounded or uneven, especially when the tree is small.
Leaves are a distinguishing feature of the Ironwood tree, with the tender leaves having dark pink to red color. Leaves are simple, lance-shaped, bright green, and glossy with a slightly wavy margin.
The pinkish-red leaves make the tree very attractive for landscaping, the green foliage interspersed with tender red leaves.
Flowers of Ironwood tree are very prominent, big white flowers with a yellow center giving the tree its name Poached egg tree. Flowers are 5-7 centimeters in diameter with four distinct white or cream-colored petals, and numerous yellow stamens clustered at the center.
During spring and summer, the tree produces an abundance of white flowers in large clusters, that create a striking contrast to the green foliage. These flowers are fragrant, attracting numerous pollinators like bees and butterflies to it.
After pollination, the flowers produce round, capsule-like fruits that are about 5-7 cm in diameter, containing numerous smooth brown seeds.
Gardening tips
Ironwood trees thrive in warm, tropical weather with good sunshine and rains. They should be planted in areas that get good sunlight and water. Small trees should be watered regularly and pruned to remove any diseased branches.
They prefer moist, well-drained soil, or a location near streams or rivers so that the roots can absorb enough water. Once the trees are mature, they don’t need any care and maintenance.
Uses of Ironwood tree
Ironwood trees have medicinal, commercial, and cultural significance in South East Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka.
Their roots, bark, and leaves are used to treat inflammations, digestive disorders like bloating and indigestion, respiratory ailments, cough, asthma, bronchitis, and fever. Fiber from the bark is used to make ropes and baskets.
Wood of the tree is very strong and durable, as the name suggests, and is used for making ships, furniture, wood carvings, buildings, etc. The wood is durable and resistant to rot, making them ideal in constructing wooden structures.
The dense canopy of the tree provides a lot of shade and is therefore ideal for parks and roadsides, even in urban settings. It provides shelter to small animals and birds that can nest in the tree, and also eat the fruits.
Flower of the Ironwood tree is a symbol of purity and is often used in religious rituals, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism. This tree is national tree of Sri Lanka and the state tree of Mizoram, India. The flower is revered as the state flower of Tripura, India.
Propagation
Ironwood tree is propagated through seeds and stem cuttings.
Seeds collected from mature fruits can be cleaned, dried, scrubbed with a sandpaper to remove the outer coating, and sowed in moist soil, where they germinate in 2-4 weeks. Semi hardwood cuttings taken from healthy trees can take roots in normal soil.
Photographed at: Lunuganga, Sri Lanka
