Economic Value of Trees

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
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The Botanical Review 69(4): 321376
Trees and Their Economic Importance

M. K. SETH
Department of Bio-Sciences Himachal Pradesh University Shimla 171 005, H.P., India
I. Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II. Introduction and Classification of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III. The Economic Importance of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A. Trees as a Source of Timber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B. Trees in the Restoration, Reclamation and Rejuvenation of Denuded and Disturbed Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. Ecological, Ecodevelopmental and Environment Uses of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Natural Purifiers of the Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Environment Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. The Physical Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Wildlife . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Urban and Rural Afforestation Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Road Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Protection of Road Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D. The Educational and Recreational Value of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Shade and Shelter (or Avenue Trees) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Ornamental Flowering Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Ornamental Foliage Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Ornamental Fragrance Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Ornamental Fruiting Plants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Ornamental Hedges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Live Screens and Fences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Sculpture and Topiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Landscaping and Bioaesthetic Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. Veneration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. Art and Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. Trees as a Source of Sustenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Sugars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Starches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. Spices and Condiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. Nonalcoholic Beverages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6. Fumitories, Masticatories and Narcotics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7. Medicines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. Essential Oils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Issued 07 April 2004

2004 The New York Botanical Garden
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9. Fatty Oils and Vegetable Fats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10. Waxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11. Soap Substitutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12. Vegetable Ivory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13. Fodder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14. Fuel, Bioenergy or Biofuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15. Fertilizers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16. Fibers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17. Pulp and Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18. Tannins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19. Dyes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20. Rubber and Other Latex Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21. Gums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22. Resins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23. Cork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24. Food for Silkworms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV. Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V. Literature Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I. Abstract
The biological and logical meaning of trees, which are one of the important woody plants of our ecosystem, are reviewed in this article. Trees are mostly used for timber purposes, but in the present article the utility of trees with respect to their importance in restoring, reclaiming and rejuvenating denuded and disturbed soils, their ecological, ecodevelopmental and environmental use, and their educational and recreational value in gardening, landscaping and bioesthetic planning is described. In addition, the importance of trees is discussed with reference to their value as a source of sustenance: food, sugars, starches, spices and condiments, beverages, fumitories, masticatories and narcotics, medicines, essential oils, fatty oils and vegetable fats, waxes, soap substitutes, vegetable ivory, fodder, fuel, bioenergy or biofuel, fertilizers, fiber, pulp and paper, tannins, dyes, rubber and other latex products, gums, resins and cork. Lastly, the food plants of mulberry and non-mulberry silkworms, which feed on the leaves of many forest trees, are mentioned.
II. Introduction and Classification of Trees

Trees are important to humankind not only economically, environmentally and industrially but also spiritually, historically and aesthetically, for they sustain human life through direct and indirect gains by providing a wide range of products for survival and prosperity. However, it is not always easy to define tree. A tree is a large, long-lived (i.e., perennial) woody plant that attains a height of at least 6 m (20 ft) at maturity in a given locality and usuallybut not alwayshas a single main self-supporting stem called a trunk or a bole, which gives off spreading branches, twigs and foliage to make a crown (Venkatesh, 1976; Panshin & de Zeeuw, 1980; Hawkins, 1986). Since the diameter at breast height (dbh) of trees is determined internationally at 1.35 m (4.5 ft) above the ground, a tree must be unbranchedi.e., with a single trunkat least up to 1.5 m (5 ft) from the ground. But this definition does not cover the following (Venkatesh, 1976), which are also considered trees: Palms are typically unbranched trees with only one trunk (columnar stem), called the caudex, which ends in a crown of large leaves. Bamboos are trees without a main trunk but with a cluster of culms arising from the underground rhizome. These culms are unbranched, with distinct nodes and internodes that give them a jointed appearance.
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The banana tree (plant) has only a thick false stem (pseudostem), which is not woody but made up of a central core of soft tissues concealed by the fibrous and sheathing bases of large leaves. Strictly speaking, the banana plant is a giant herb. Tree ferns like Cyathaea and Alsophila have erect rhizomes with generally unbranched trunks, topped by a crown of graceful, feathery fronds that form a rosette at the apex. Bonsaii.e., tailored or humanmade miniature or dwarfed living trees that have been prevented from reaching their normal sizeare grown in pots and kept in greenhouses, drawing rooms, etc. This technique was first perfected by the Japanese. In addition to the above definitions, the scientific distinction between trees, shrubs, lianas and undershrubs or semishrubs is not always clear. For example, many species of treese.g. Rhododendron spp., which are large under normal conditionsbecome shrubs when growing near their altitudinal and latitudinal limits. Woody plants in which several branches arise from near the base, giving the plant a bushy appearance, are called shrubs. Likewise, certain species of figs (Ficus spp.) begin their life as woody climbers called lianas but eventually end up as trees; i.e., they become arborescent. Similarly, Grewia scabrophylla at times is an undershrub, when exposed to annual fires; in other places, however, it grows into a tall shrub (Panshin & de Zeeuw, 1980). The science dealing with the study of woody plantsi.e., trees and shrubs is called dendrology. Trees can be classified in several ways: Depending upon their utility or end products, they may be called avenue, ornamental, shade bearing, fragrant, fruit bearing, medicinal or drug yielding, timber yielding, fodder yielding, nitrogen fixing, venerated, fuel yielding, fiber yielding, multipurpose trees, etc. Those trees that remain green in their dormant season due to persistence of leaves are called evergreen trees. In such trees all the leaves do not fall off simultaneously, and the plants are never leafless. Those trees in which all the leaves of a plant fall at the end of one growing season one by one or simultaneously, leaving the plant leafless in the dormant season, are called deciduous trees. All cone-being trees are called conifers or coniferous trees, and all trees that are not cone bearing but are flower bearing are called flowering trees or broad-leaved trees. Whereas conifers have needle-shaped leaves, flowering trees have broad or flattened leaves. A conifer usually has a conical appearance and has an excurrent stem; i.e., its main stem is thickest at the base and gradually tapers toward the apex, with lateral branches in an acropetal succession. A flowering tree usually has a dome-shaped appearance and a deliquescent or decurrent stem in which the main trunk divides at some distance from the ground into several branches, which branch again and again, making the trunk appear to deliquese or melt away. Ornamental trees that have showy flowers are called ornamental flowering trees, and those with beautiful foliage and inconspicuous flowers are called ornamental foliage trees. The former are usually deciduous; the latter, evergreen. Those trees in which seeds are borne naked are called gymnosperms (from the Greek gymnos [naked] and sperma [seed]), and those trees in which seeds are enclosed within an ovary/fruit wall are called angiosperms (from the Greek angeon [vesicle] and sperma [seed]). The angiospermic trees are further classified into dicotyledonous or dicot trees, if they have two cotyledons in their seeds, and monocotyledonous or monocot trees, if they have only one cotyledon in their seeds. Both gymnosperms and angiosperms are sometimes placed under one division, called spermatophyta, siphonagama or phanerogams. Spermatophytes (from the Greek sperma [seed] and phyton [plant]) are those plants that are seed bearing. Siphonagama (from the Greek siphon [tube] and gamous [marriage]) are those plants in which fertilization occurs by means of a pollen tube. Phanerogamous (from the Greek phaneros [open] and gamous [marriage]) are those plants in which reproduction is not concealed or hidden but
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open; i.e., they bear flowers and produce seeds. Trees belonging to gymnosperms and angiosperms not only constitute the dominant component of any vegetation but also add to the biodiversity or biological diversity of any particular region.
III. The Economic Importance of Trees

Trees represent one of the important components of each and every terrestrial ecosystem and are a part of natures precious gifts. Some are deciduous; others are evergreen. Some have beautiful flowers; others have beautiful fruits or foliage. Some are scented; others are ugly but economically very important. The welfare of humankind is affected not only by their density and diversity but also by their direct and indirect values, which are beyond estimation. In fact, each letter of the plural word TREES has a logical meaning (Seth, 2002): T Timber, the first and the foremost use of trees R Restoration, reclamation and rejuvenation of denuded and disturbed soils by using trees to control soil erosion and desertification, protect watersheds, improve soil nutrient status (by growing nitrogen-fixing trees) and retain moisture in the soil E Ecological, ecodevelopmental and environmental use of trees for effective and efficient purification of the environment because trees act as oxygen banks and eliminate air pollutants; for abating or moderating temperature, noise and wind by planting trees as environmental screens, thus affecting the microclimate; for harboring wildlife; for maintaining biodiversity; and for conserving energy E Educational and recreational value in gardening, landscaping, bioesthetic planning, art, culture and religion S Source of sustenance; i.e., food, fuel, fodder, fertilizer, fiber, medicine, tannin, dyes, oils, etc.
A. TREES AS A SOURCE OF TIMBER
Trees are woody perennial plants, i.e. they are capable of producing wood through the meristematic activity of the vascular cambium. The latter gives rise to secondary xylem (nontechnically called wood) toward its inner side and to secondary phloem (nontechnically called bark) toward its outer side. Wood produced by cycads is called manoxylic. It is not compacti.e., it is loose, not densewith wide rays, pith and cortex and thus useless commercially. Wood produced by conifers, taxads, Ginkgo biloba and dicots is called pycnoxylic. It is compact and dense, with narrow rays, pith and cortex and hence commercially very useful. The commercially useful woods are called timbers, and timber that is used for building purposes is called lumber. Tectona grandis (teak) and Cedrus deodara (deodar) are, respectively, considered the best angiospermic and gymnospermic timbers in the world. Woods obtained from timber trees are used for construction and other miscellaneous purposes like agricultural implements, boat and ship building, carts and carriages, carving and turnery, cooperage (barrel making), electric poles, engraving and printing blocks, furniture and cabinet work, matches and match boxes, mathematical instruments, musical instruments, packing cases and boxes, pencil and pen holders, picture framing, railway carriage and wagon building, railway sleepers, rifle parts, shoe heels and boot lasts, shuttles, sports goods, tea chests, toys, etc. For examples of these one may consult Anonymous (19701972, 1983) and Trotter (1940, 1944).
TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE B. TREES IN THE RESTORATION, RECLAMATION AND REJUVENATION OF DENUDED AND DISTURBED SOILS
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Planting trees on denuded and waste land, along roads, railway tracks, deserted areas, watersheds, etc. protects soil from erosion by wind or water by firmly binding it with roots and by diverting runoff during rains. The sides of the roads, railway tracks and watersheds can thus be protected. Desertification can likewise be controlled by planting trees. The trees also retain moisture in the soil, and if nitrogen-fixing trees are grown, the nutrient status of the soil can be enriched tremendously. The sap of Cassia fistula (amaltas) leaves contains certain chemicals that have a purgative action on the digestive organs of grazing animals like goats, cows and buffalo, and thus amaltas is well suited for planting on wastelands. Wild fruit trees like Zizyphus jujuba (ber) and Morus alba (toot) can also be propagated on wastelands in and around villages.
C. ECOLOGICAL, ECODEVELOPMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENT USES OF TREES
1. Natural Purifiers of the Environment

Plants, including shrubs and trees, act as biological filters by helping cleanse the environment. They are the best natural purifiers of environment pollution; i.e., they improve the quality of the air we breathe. First, they act as the oxygen banks on this planet. They play an important role in maintaining the oxygen cycle, which is essential for the survival of all forms of life. Second, they may help reduce pollution. Leaves can absorb gaseous pollutants on their surfaces, especially if their surfaces are waxy, spiny or hairy. In addition, stems, branches and twigs can intercept particulates. Third, they reduce oxides of carbon in the air, can also fix atmospheric nitrogen, disintegrate waste and act as sinks of pollution or pollutant scavenges by absorbing and metabolizing toxic gases and heavy metals (Chakraverty & Jain, 1984). Different species as well as individuals within a species can vary in their tolerance to pollutants. High concentrations of pollutants can damage and even kill many tree species. Trees that are particularly sensitive could be used as early warnings of high pollution levels.
2. Environmental Screens
When properly grown in urban and rural areas, trees act as wind barriers by decreasing the force of the wind and reducing the level of noise from highways and other sources. Even individual trees, if strategically planted around a house, can provide relief from noise and annoying lights at night. Trees thus reduce stress on human beings. Ecologically they act as wind breaks and shelter belts, thus providing protection against soil erosion and a defense against encroachment by seas, floods and deserts.
3. The Physical Environment

Trees help to reduce temperature by providing shade and by intercepting, absorbing and reflecting solar radiation, especially in warmer places, where there is year-round warmth and sunshine (Schubert, 1979). Trees also function as natural air conditioners by evaporating water from their leaves through the process of transpiration. A single large, well-watered city tree can transpire about 380 liters (100 gallons) of water in one day, thus producing the cooling effect of five average room air conditioners running 20 hours a day (Schubert, 1979). Trees thus improve the microclimate; i.e., they help control and stabilize the climate of the region and of the world as a whole. A single tree standing alone may not affect the overall surrounding much, but
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a belt or groups of trees or many trees scattered throughout the neighborhood can be quite effective (Schubert, 1979).
4. Wildlife
Trees, both native and ornamental, harbor wildlife. They directly feed and house the majority of worlds creatures and animals like insects, birds, small mammals and reptiles, which we need in order to live. Thus they play a major role as one of the important components of natural and humanmade biodiversity.
5. Urban and Rural Afforestation Programs

Large-scale urbanization and industrialization have led to the development of severely eroded, barren and denuded areas, rocks, cliffs, etc. on which direct plantation of trees is difficult. In such cases shrubs act as the primary colonizers of denuded areas. The successful growths of shrubs create favorable conditions for tree growth by way of retaining moisture, increasing soil nutrient status and sheltering the trees from frost, wind and other biotic interferences through the process of secondary succession. The whole forest-management program can thus bring not only greenery to the Himalayas and other urban and rural regions of India but also stability to the environment by restoring the ecological balance (Maithani et al., 1991).
6. Road Safety
The presence of shrubs and trees along roadsides makes their edges and curves conspicuous, thus making a natural guide for safe driving, and for this purpose the lower portions of their stems are usually painted white (Chakraverty & Jain, 1984).
7. Protection of Road Surfaces

The semimelting of tar or bitumen in summers, cracking of road surfaces during hot weather and mechanical damage to road surfaces by heavy downpours and hailstorms can largely be prevented by growing roadside trees with thick crowns (Chakraverty & Jain, 1984).
D. THE EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL VALUE OF TREES
Increased urbanization and industrialization have resulted in isolating humans from nature. Trees can help make urban areas green, livable and beautiful. Trees with colorful flowers or foliage add extra attractiveness. They are the dominant elements of gardens and contribute substantially to the garden atmosphere. According to Kohli (1996), the comfortable urban life needs better avenue trees and shrubs, because: An agricultural component is not feasible; Comfortable temperatures and microclimates for residents are needed; Pollutants that pose major problems are to be removed; Cool shade is needed in summer; and Dense populations need vegetation for gaseous exchange. Trees are thus a source of pleasure and recreation when they are planted along roads and railway tracks and in botanical gardens, arboreta, city parks, squares, home gardens, public places, industrial areas, etc. The cultivation of trees for their aesthetic or recreational value is
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known as arboriculture. In an ornamental garden they are usually planted either as specimen trees or in groups. The educational and recreational value of trees can be studied under the following headings:
1. Shade and Shelter (or Avenue Trees)

The concept of avenue planting is as old as the vedic period. It was during the period of Ashoka (260 B.C.) and later during the reign of Kanishka (A.D. 78101) and the Mughals, however, that the foundations of proper roadside avenues were laid. When properly grown, the tall, fast-growing and majestic trees with thick foliage along roadsides provide not only shade for pedestrians and travelers but also shelter for stray animals from scorching heat, wind, rain, etc. Species selected for such purposes should not be thorny or prickly (Chakraverty & Jain, 1984). The other important factors for selection of roadside trees, according to Chakraverty and Jain (1984) and Randhawa (1961, 19651983), are: The trees should be branchless up to 34 m above the soil surface so that vehicles can pass easily, particularly on narrow roads. On national highways or on very wide roads, two to three deep rows of large trees spaced 56 m apart should be planted. These trees should have good, dense crowns so they can provide adequate shade and protection from rain, sun and hail. Dwarf trees or medium-sized-to-large shrubs, preferably ever blooming in nature, should be selected for boulevards and road medians. The trees should not have spreading crowns that might obstruct the growth of trees in the opposite row. Trees on the two sides of the road should not be opposite each other; they should be planted alternately. Fuel-wood species and fodder species should not be chosen for the roadsides, because they are likely to be lopped, pruned and chopped by the neighboring inhabitants, thus destroying the landscaping and giving the avenue a shabby appearance. The root system of the trees should be neither very spreading nor very shallow. Trees with very robust and spreading root systems damage the masonry work of roads, foot paths and adjacent buildings. On the other hand, trees with shallow root system, like Millingtonia hortensis (mahanim), topple over in storms and obstruct traffic. Thus trees with deep root systems should be selected. Trees like Ficus benghalensis (bat or barghad) have hanging aerial roots, which would obstruct traffic and pedestrians, so they should not be selected. Soft-wooded and brittle trees like Albizia lebbek, Cassia siamea, Eucalyptus spp., Eugenia jambolana, Ficus glomerata, Millingtonia hortensis and Sygyzium cumini should not be planted along roadsides, for they tend to break in storms and block traffic. During summers and rainstorms, protection from sun and rain are most needed, so trees that shed their leaves during these periods should not be planted. Moreover, fallen leaves in the rainy season make the road slippery and block the drainage system. Various species of Acacia, Zizyphus, etc., which are prickly or thorny, should not be planted because the fallen prickles or thorns cause trouble for pedestrians, animals and people and may also damage the tires of cycles and vehicles. The trees should have the ability to withstand winter lopping, when little shade is required. These loppings can be utilized as fuel wood (Singhal & Khanna, 1991). Too many species should not be mixed within short distances, particularly on roads away from cities and towns.
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Randhawa (19651983) recommended avenue trees for planting purposes: as foliage trees for outer avenues for town roads, Albizia procera (safed siris), Anthocephalus cadamba (kadam), Averrhoea carambola (kamrak), Bassia latifolia (mahua), Callistemon lanceolatum (lal botal brush), Dalbergia sissoo (shisham), Eugenia operculata, Mangifera indica (mango), Melia azedarach (drek), Pithecolobium saman (rain tree), Platanus orientalis (chinar), Polyalthia longifolia (ashoka), Putranjiva roxburghii, Sterculia alata, Tamarindus indica (imli), etc; as flowering trees for inner avenues for town roads, Bauhinia purpurea (gulabi kachnar), B. variegata (kachnar), Cassia fistula (amaltas), Colvillea racemosa (kilbili), Gliricidia maculata (madre tree), Grevillea robusta, Jacaranda mimosaefolia (nili-gul-mohur), Lagerstroemia flosreginae (jarul, crepe flower), L. thorelli (barri sanwani), Peltophorum ferrugineum (ivalvagai), Poinciana regia (gul mohur), Spathodea nilotica (fountain tree), etc.
2. Ornamental Flowering Plants

Ornamental trees that have showy flowers are called ornamental flowering trees. India has the largest number of flowering trees in the world, indigenous as well as exotic, that can be utilized for beautifying towns. Many trees bloom at a particular season and appear more effective when planted in groups. In small and medium-sized gardens, ornamental trees should be planted only in the boundaries as foundation planting. An arboretum is a garden of trees. While planting a tree, beauty and utility should be combined deftly. The best time for planting trees is during the rainy season. Dwarf ornamental flowering trees suitable for small compounds are Acacia auriculiformis, Alangium lamarckii, Bauhinia purpurea, B. variegata, Brownea ariza, B. coccinea, Butea frondosa, Cassia fistula, C. javanica, C. marginata, Cochlospermum gossypium, Cordia sebestena, Crataeva religiosa, Erythrina blakei, E. cristagalli, Gliricidia maculata, Guaicum officinale, Holarrhena antidysentrica, Jacaranda mimosaefolia, Kleinhovia hospita, Lagerstroemia thorelli, Mesua ferrea, Milletia auriculata, Plumeria alba, P. rubra, Pongamia glabra, Saraca indica, Solanum wrightii, Spathodea nilotica, Sterculia colorata, Tecomella undulata, Thespesia populnea, etc. (Cowen, 1950; Randhawa, 19651983). For large compounds, some examples of beautiful flowering trees are Anthocephalus indicus, Bombax malabaricum, Cassia grandis, C. nodosa, Chorisia speciosa, Colvillea racemosa, Lagerstroemia flos-reginae, Millingtonia hortensis, Peltophorum ferrugineum, Poinciana regia and Sterculia colorata (Cowen, 1950; Randhawa, 19651983). Trivedi (1983, 1987, 1996) recommended the following small trees for the hills: Acacia alata (with bright yellow flowers), A. dealbata (with light yellow flowers), Bauhinia variegata (with rose, purple and white flowers), Magnolia grandiflora (with white flowers), Prunus serrulata (with pink flowers), Rhododendendron arboreum (with crimson flowers) and R. campanulatum (with magenta flowers). Trivedi also recommends a few trees for cultivation on the plains.
3. Ornamental Foliage Plants

Ornamental trees with beautiful foliage but inconspicuous flowers are called ornamental foliage trees. Common examples are palms, evergreen conifers, Acacia auriculiformis, Averrhoa carambola, Callistemon lanceolatum, Citharexylum subserratum, Diospyros embryopteris, Eucalyptus spp., Ficus infectoria, F. retusa, Kigelia pinnata, Phyllanthus emblica, Polyalthia longifolia, Putranjiva roxburghii, Tamarindus indica and Terminalia arjuna (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983).
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Evergreen shrubs and trees provide a structure for the garden during winter months. Without them the garden will look bleak and dull, when the foliage of most herbaceous perennials disappears, leaving only bare stems and branches. In temperate regions conifers constitute the most important and showy group of plants. Many varieties show symmetrical growth and are frequently used in formal gardens. They keep their ornamental effect even in winter, when most broad-leaved trees shed their leaves. Common examples of foliage trees in the hills are the species of Araucaria, Cryptomeria and Cupressus (Trivedi, 1983, 1987, 1996).
4. Ornamental Fragrance Plants

Many trees combine beauty with fragrance. Some trees that are commonly cultivated for scent or fragrance are Acacia podalyriaefolia, Anthocephalus indicus (kadam), Biota orientalis, Citrus aurantifolium (lime), C. japonica, C. limon (lemon), Cymphomandra betacea, Gardenia lucida, G. latifolia, G. resinifera (dekamali), Galphimia gracilis, Grewia asiatica, Luculia gratissima, Magnolia grandiflora (bara champa), Michelia champaca (champa or champak), Mimusops elengi (maulsari), Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (harsinghar), Plumeria tuberculata, Rhododendron formosum and Sambucus nigra (Randhawa, 1961). In home gardens these can be planted opposite windows and doors of bedrooms, so that one can enjoy their fragrance in the evening, particularly in summer months (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983; Trivedi, 1990). Some examples of fragrant ornamental trees for large compounds are Dillenia indica, Mimusops elengi and Pterospermum acerifolium (Randhawa, 19651983). Trees with snow-white, fragrant flowers against the background of dark green foliage are very delightful for moonlit gardens. Some common examples in this category are Bauhinia alba, Citharexylum subserratum, Crataeva religiosa, Delonix regia, Dillenia indica, Erythrina variegata, Gardenia resinifera, Gliricidia alba, Holarrhena antidysentrica, Lagerstromia indica (white), Millingtonia hortensis, Mimusops elengi, M. hexandra, Plumeria acutifolia, P. alba, Prunus domestica and Wrightia tinctoria (Randhawa, 1961).
5. Ornamental Fruiting Plants

Trees commonly grown for their beautiful, attractive and colorful fruits are Citrus microcarpea, Hazara orange and other Citrus spp., papaya (Carica papaya), peach (Prunus persica), pineapple (Ananas comosus), tree tomato (Cymphomandra betacea), banana (Musa paradisiaca), strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), quince (Cydonia oblonga), loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), common spindle tree (Euonymus europeaus), gean (Prunus avium), pomegranate (Punica granatum) and jujube (Zizyphus jujuba) (Lunardi, 1987; Trivedi, 1983, 1987, 1996). Planting of trees in and around childrens park can provide vitamins and nutrients to children when they eat the fruit as they play.
6. Ornamental Hedges
Hedges provide a natural background for a garden, as a frame does for a painting. The hedge may be external or internal. An external hedgelive fenceis usually tall, measuring about 1.52.5 m (59 ft) high, and it may replace the compound wall; thus it demarcates the garden from the public road. It also serves as a protective screen against wind and noise pollution. Species selected for external hedges should be tall, fast-growing and evergreen, with thick and dense foliage from the base to the top. The blooms should not clash with the general color scheme. An internal hedge that separates parts within a garden is not as tall. It is usually 3090
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cm (13 ft) tall. Species that are capable of growing under adverse conditions and require minimal maintenance are selected for both types of hedges. Species of Biota, Cupressus, Ilex, Juniperus, Thuja, etc. are used for evergreen hedges. The following flowering trees may be used for making colorful hedges: Bauhinia acuminata, Bougainvillaea spp., Erythrina indica, Hibiscus spp., Meyenia erecta, Plumbago capensis, Sesbania aegyptica, Strobilanthes spp. and Tecoma stans (Randhawa, 1961).
7. Live Screens and Fences

In cities and towns trees can be utilized for screening the premises of adjacent houses and thus maintaining privacy. Servants quarters and other unsightly views like manure pits, potting areas, etc. in large gardens can also be screened by growing closely spaced, small trees. Species with prickles or spines or having stiff branches or both with nonedible leaves should be preferred, according to the requirements. Ideally, the species selected for this purpose should be fast growing, of medium height, long-lived, capable of growing under adverse conditions and with minimal maintenance requirements (Singhal & Khanna, 1991).
8. Sculpture and Topiary

Topiary is an art of shaping hedgesshrubsand trees into an ornamental form like a ball, spiral, table, cube, etc., into a figure like a bird, beast or human or into a theme such as a farmer with a pair of bullocks. A formal garden is most suitable for topiary work because it creates an Old World appearance. The most common examples used for such purposes are Buxus sempervirens, Cupressus macropoda, Murraya exotica and Taxus baccata (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983).
9. Education
Ornamental trees are not only a source of recreation and pleasure but also educate people, when visitors in gardens and travelers along roadsides wish to know the names and uses of such trees. If roads and gardens are named after some dominant shrub and tree species, the work of making them familiar to the public becomes easier (Chakraverty & Jain, 1984).
10. Landscaping and Bioaesthetic Planning

Shrubs and trees improve the landscape. For example, trees along roadsides are a source of beauty not only to the road but also to the length and breadth of the area through which the road runs. Along roads, fuelwood, fodder and thorny species should not be chosen. Shrubs and trees constitute two of the most important components of landscaping and bioaesthetic planning of urban cities and towns. Many species bloom at a particular season and appear more effective when planted in groups (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983). As far as possible, native species should be selected, because, apart from their aesthetic value, scenic beauty and immediate utility, these trees involve reduced maintenance costs, preserve biological diversity and prevent species extinction. They are also a valuable national asset and a reserve of timber and fuel in case of emergency. It is estimated that India has the largest number of flowering trees in the world, indigenous as well as exotic, that can be utilized for beautifying cities and towns. It may be mentioned here that bioaesthetic planning of ornamental trees has a close relationship with plant ecology. Plants must be planted only in those localities or habitats that are
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similar to their natural habitats or surroundings, because the texture of the soil, the availability of water resources, the amount of rainfall, the presence of rivers, canals and tanks and the temperature play an important role in the growth and survival of the trees (Randhawa, 1965 1983). Trees must be planted in habitats that are similar to their natural surroundingi.e., that have approximately the same edaphic and climatic conditionsotherwise either dwarfing may occur or the species will not be able to survive. Some examples of ornamental flowering trees suited to moist localities are Amherstia nobilis, Bauhinia purpurea, Brownea ariza, B. coccinea, Cassia javanica, C. marginata, C. nodosa, Colvillea racemosa, Guaicum officinale, Lagerstroemia flos-regine, L. thorelli, Milletia auriculata, Poinciana regia, Peltophorum ferrugineum, Pithecolobium saman, Saraca indica and Solanum wrightii (Randhawa, 19651983). Examples of ornamental flowering trees suited to dry localities are Acacia auriculiformis, Butea frondosa, Cassia fistula, Cochlospermum gossypium, Cordia subestena, Erythrina blakei, E. indica, Jacaranda mimosaefolia, Melia azadirachta, Plumeria alba, Pongamia glabra, Spathodea campanulata, S. nilotica, Sterculia colorata, Tecomella undulata and Thespesia populnea (Randhawa, 19651983). Drought-resistant trees suitable for arid regions are Albizia lebbek (siris), Butea frondosa (dhak), Cassia fistula (amaltas), Casuarina equisetifolia (beefwood tree), Eucalyptus citriodora (safeda), Melia azedarach (Persian lilac, bakain), Morus indica (mulberry), Phoenix dactylifera (khajoor), Prosopis juliflora (mesquite bean), Salvadora persica (pilu), etc. (Randhawa, 1965 1983). Some examples of salt-resistant trees are Azadirachta indica (neem), Butea frondosa (dhak), Bassia latifolia (mahua), Eucalyptus citriodora (safeda), Phoenix dactylifera (khajoor), Phyllanthus emblica (amla), Psidium guava (amrood), Tamarix articulata (farash) and Thespesia populnea (bhendi) (Randhawa, 19651983). Trees for swamps and marshy areas are Eucalyptus rostrata, Salix tetrasperma (willow), S. babylonica, Sapium sebiferum (makhan), Tamarix articulata (farash), plantain, etc. (Randhawa, 19651983). Sapium sebiferum, known as Chinese tallow tree, is a medium-sized, deciduous tree whose leaves display lovely autumn tints. It is used for stream training in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
11. Veneration
From one end of the world to the other we can trace the extreme power of trees over the minds of humans. Christmas trees, May trees, pomegranates, Ginkgo biloba, bo trees, etc. can be cited as occupying a place in the religious and ceremonial activities in diveve cultures throughout the world. In India alone 99 trees are venerated (Bennet et al., 1992). In ancient times rishis worshiped several trees as Vrikshadevta and Vanadevta. Groves of trees and flower gardens were tended with loving care and were called vrikshavatika and pushpavatika, respectively. Several such protected forest groves or gardens, including Ashoka Vatika, Chitrakoot and Panchvatti, were known in ancient India.
12. Art and Culture

A tree laden with flowers and/or fruits is a great joy to the beholder. Native trees have a special place in Indian folk songs. Immortal poets and writers like Valmiki and Kalidasa have sung songs in praise of trees. Even folktales have celebrated the importance and beauty of trees in India (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983).
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Indian trees have a personality of their own. The beauty of Indian trees has been sketched or painted by many artists (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983), like Bireshwar Sen and his wife, Lakshmi, Sarbjeet Singh, Ganga Singh, Anil Roy Chowdhry, Gopal Ghosh, Manishi Day, Madhava Menon, Devyani Kanwal Krishna, Sudhir Khastgir, Francis Brunell, Madame Sass Brunner and her daughter Elizabeth, A. K. Gohel, R. A. Eklund, E. Blatter, P. N. Sharma, A. K. Sharma, H. Smith, Margaret Thacker, G. Millard (Lady Kinnear), Sister Marychionia, Lady Douie, S. H. Prater, H. Robinson and H. N. Wandrekar. Many of their works have been included in books on Indian botany (Seth et al., 2002). Kalidasa observed that the women of Alkapuri rubbed the dust of lodhra flowers on their cheeks, maghya flowers decorated their temples, kuruvaka flowers hung from the knots of their hair and sirisha flowers decorated their ears. Elsewhere, in the monsoon kadamba flowers glorified womens heads. The women carried pink lotuses in their hands, decorated their tress knots with white champaka, wore bracelets of jasmine around their wrists and wore garlands of jasmine and bela (Randhawa, 1961, 19651983). Indias vast, rich Sanskrit literature contains the names of several trees, including the ornamental trees arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), asoka (Saraca indica), champaka (Michelia champaca), chuta (Mangifera indica), devadaru (Cedrus deodara), gandharaja (Gardenia florida), kadamba (Anthocephalus cadamba), karnikara (Pterospermum acerifolium), ketaki (Pandanus odoratissimus), kimsuka (Butea frondosa), kovidara (Bauhinia purpurea), kunda (Jasminum pubescens), kuravaka (Lawsonia alba), lodhra (Symplocos racemosa), mandara (Erythrina indica), naga kesara (Mesua ferrea), narikela (Cocos nucifera), parijataka (Nyctanthes arbortristis), punnaga (Calophyllum inophyllum), sala (Shorea robusta), krishna sirish (Albizia amara), pitsirish (Albizia lebbek), tala (Borassus flabelliformis) and vakula (Mimusops elengi) (Randhawa, 1961; Anonymous, 1986; Dwivedi, 2000).
E. TREES AS A SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE
Trees are one of the major sources of sustenance: food; sugars; starches; spices and condiments; beverages; fumitories, masticatories and narcotics; medicines; essential oils; fatty oils and vegetable fats; waxes; soap substitutes; vegetable ivory; fodder; fuel, bioenergy or biofuel; fertilizers; fiber; pulp and paper; tannins; dyes; rubber and other latex products; gums; resins; and cork. These are described separately under the following headings:
1. Food
Trees as a source of food include edible fruits, vegetables and tree legumes. Botanically, a fruit is a matured or ripened ovary, along with its contents and adhering accessory structures, if any. The seeds inside the fruits are the fertilized ovules. Sometimes seeds are formed without fertilization. This phenomenon is called agamospermy, a kind of parthenogenesis. A fruit that matures without seed formation is called parthenocarpic fruit. Fruits are eaten raw. Vegetables are edible plants that store reserve foodmainly carbohydratesin roots, stems, leaves or fruits and that are eaten either cooked or raw. Legumesor podsare the proteinaceous fruits of family Leguminosae. Some of these are edible. The important food-yielding trees are depicted in Table I.
2. Sugars
Sugar is a plant product surpassed in importance only by cereals and potatoes. It is one of the most important reserve food supplies, not only for the plant in which it is found but also also because it serves as the most necessary foodsource of energyfor humans. Sugar in
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Table I Trees as a source of food

Family Mimosaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Lecythidaceae Anacardiacae Arecaceae Corylaceae Corylaceae Juglandaceace Juglandaceae Burseraceae Pinaceae Juglandaceae Fagaceae Combretaceae Proteaceae Proteaceae Rosaceae Fagaceae Pistaciaceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Tree legumes Algaroba
Prosopis chinensis, P. juliflora
Carob bean Honey locust Tamarind or imli
Ceratonia siliqua Gleditsia triacanthus Tamarindus indica
Rain tree or vilaiti sirris
Samanea saman
Nittas Manila tamarind or jangal jalebi
Parkia biglobosam P. filicoidea, P. roxburghii Pithecellobium dulce
Flowers a source of honey; pods used as stock feed Dried pod edible Pods eaten by animals Pods used for tart; fruits pulp used for chutney or sauce Sweet pulp of black pods excellent food stock Pods and seeds edible Aril edible
Nuts with high fat content Brazil nut, neggertoes, cream nuts Cashew nut or kaju
Bertholletia excelsa Anacardium occidentale
Coconut or nariyal Filbert Hazelnut Hickory Pecan nut Pilinut Pine nut
Contain 6570% fats and 17% proteins Swollen peduncle, thalamus and cotyledons edible Endosperm edible Kernels edible Kernels edible Kernels edible Kernels edible Seeds edible Cotyledons edible Cotyledons edible
Walnut European beech Jangli badam Queensland nut Macadamia nut
Cocus nucifera Corylus avellana Corylus americana, C. cornuta, C. colurna Carya ovata Carya illinoensis Canarium ovatum Pinus edulis, P. gerardiana (Chilgoza), P. kesiya, etc. Juglans nigra, J. regia Fagus sylvatica Terminalia catappa Macadamia turnifolia Macadamia turnifolia, M. integrifolia
Nuts with high protein content Almond Beechnut Pistachio nut, green almond
Prunus amygdalus Fagus grandifolia, F. sylvatica Pistacia vera
Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible
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Table I, continued
Family Fagaceae Fagaceae Lauraceae Moraceae Moraceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rosaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae Fleshy thalamus edible Fleshy thalamus edible Fleshy thalamus edible Fleshy thalamus edible Fleshy thalamus edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible Fruits edible Fruits edible Fruits edible Eaten by animals Seeds edible Remarks
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Common name
Genus and species
Nuts with high carbohydrate content, continued Acorn Quercus spp. Chestnut Castanea dentata Fruit vegetables Avocado, alligator pear Persea americana Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis Jackfruit, kat-hal Artocarpus heterophyllus Pome fruits Apple, vern. seb Malus pumila, syn. M. domestica Pear, vern. nakh Pyrus communis Quince Cydonia vulgaris Chinese pear or sand pear, vern. Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta nashpati Medlar Mespilus germanica
Stone fruits Apricot, vern. khurmani Cherry, sweet Cherry, sour, vern. gilas Cherry, Himalayan Cherry, Himalayan bird Cherry, European bird, vern. jaman Peach, vern. aru Plum, vern. alucha, alu-bukhara
Prunus armeniaca Prunus avium Prunus cerasus Prunus cerasoides Prunus cornuta Prunus padus Prunus persica Prunus domestica
Citrus fruits Sweet orange, musambi
Citrus sinensis
Sour orange, khatta
Citrus aurantium
Mandarin orange, santara
Citrus reticulata
Pomelo, grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium
Lemon, bara (pahari) nimbu Rutaceae Rutaceae
Citrus limon Rutaceae
Lime, nimbu or kaghzi nimbu
Citrus aurantifolia
Shaddock, chakotra
Citrus maxima
Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium Glandular hairs arising from endocarp edible; fruit is hesperidium Fruit rich in tannin and vitamin C; commonly pickled and used as medicine; epicarp and mesocarp of drupe edible Succulent perianth and fleshy axis edible
Other fruits Emlic, amla Euphorbiaceae Bromeliaceae Moraceae Moraceae Rhamnaceae Rutaceae Annonaceae Myrtaceae Rhamnaceae Averrhoaceae Rutaceae Annonaceae Arecaceae Moraceae Myrtaceae Rhamnaceae Sapindaceae Rosaceae
Emblica officinalis
Pineapple, ananas Mulberry, tut, shahtoot
Ananas comosus Morus alba, M. australis, M. nigra, M. rubra, etc. Atrocarpus lakoocha
Money jack, lakoocha, barhal, dahrua Chinese date, jujube, ber, badara Limeberry, chini narangi Cherimoya, Hanuman phal, Lakshman phal Jambolan, jamun, jambaba Wild jujube, jharber Carambola, karmal Bael, bilva
Zizyphus mauritiana Triphasia trifolia Annona cherimolia
Epicarp and mesocarp of drupe edible Juicy mesocarps of individual berries edible Epicarp and mesocarp of drupe edible Epicarp and mesocarp of drupe edible
Syzygium cumini Zizyphus nummularia Averrhoea carambola Aegle marmelos
Custard apple, sweet sop, sharifa
Annona squamosa
Date, pind khajur Fig Guava, amrood
Phoenix dactylifera Ficus carica Psidium guajava
Jujube, ber Litchi Loquat
Zizyphus mauritiana Litchi chinensis Eriobotrya japonica
Inner fleshy layer of pericarp and placentae edible Inner fleshy layer of pericarp and placentae edible Pericarp edible Fleshy receptacle or thalamus edible Inferior (or false) berries (i.e.. pericarp is fused with thalamus); epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp edible Epicarp and mesocarp edible Aril edible Fruit is a pome where thalamus is enlarged to form fleshy, edible part; pericarp is cartilaginous and encloses seed-bearing loculi
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Table I, continued
Family Anacardiaceae Oleaceae Fleshy mesocarp edible Epicarp and mesocarp edible; commercial olive oil is obtained from fruit pulp and seeds Seeds with juicy testa edible Remarks
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Common name
Genus and species
Other fruits, continued Mango, aam Olive Caricaceae Punicaceae Sapotaceae Rutaceae Arecaceae Euryalaceae Tiliaceae Bombacaceae Passifloraceae Myrtaceae Ebenaceae
Mangifera indica Olea europaea
Papaya, papeeta Pomegranate, anar Sapodila, sapota, chiku Kumquat Wild date, khajur
Carica papaya Punica granatum Manikara achras Fortunella japonica Phoenix sylvestris
Gorgan nut, makhana (seeds) Phalsa Durian Granadilla, passion fruit
Only one carpel develops into a one-seeded, edible berry Seeds edible
Rose apple, gulabjaman Japanese persimon, kaki
Euryale ferox Grewia subinaequalis Durio zibethinus Passiflora edulis, P. incarnata, P. lauriolia, P. lingularis, P. mollissima, P. quadrangularis Syzygium jambos Diospyros kaki
Epicarp and mesocarp of drupe edible
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plants may occur in the form of sucrose (a disaccharide of glucose and fructose that, to humans, tastes sweeter than either of its constituent monosaccharides) or cane sugar, glucose or grape sugar and fructose or fruit sugar. It occurs in roots (beets, carrots, parsnips, etc.), stems (sugarcane, maize, sorghum, sugar maple), flowers (palms), bulbs (onion) and many fruits. The important trees yielding sugars of commercial interest are shown in Table II.
3. Starches
Starch, a complex carbohydrate, is a polymer of glucose units linked by alpha bonds. It exists in two forms in plants: unbranched or linear polymers called amyloses, in which hundreds of glucose molecules form coiled molecules of starch; and branched polymers called amylopectins, in which only 4060 glucose molecules that form branched chains do not coil. Soluble starch (starch grains soaked in hot water until they burst and form a thin, clear solution or paste) is used in the textile industry for strengthening fibers and cementing loose ends together, making the thread smoother and easier to weave and thus giving a finish to the goods. It is used as a mordant in calico printing and a thickener or vehicle for colors. It is also used in laundry work, in toilet powders, in medicine, as a sizing agent in the paper industry, as binding material for china clay and many derivatives or products like dextrin, glucose, industrial alcohol and nitrostarch. Starch is one of the main reserve foods for green plants, which store it in thin-walled cells in the form of grains of different sizes, shapes and microscopic and physical characteristics. The chief sources of commercial starch are maize, potato, wheat, rice, sago, cassava and arrowroot, of which the last two are obtained from shrubs and sago is obtained from trees. Arrowroot starch is obtained from the tubers of many tropical plants, including: Maranta arundinacea (Marantaceae), yielding Indian arrowroot; Canna edulis (Cannaceae), yielding Queensland arrowroot; Curcuma angustifolia (Zingiberaceae), yielding East Indian arrowroot; and Zamia floridanda (Cycadaceae), yielding Florida arrowroot. Only the last is a small, shrublike plant. Sago starch is obtained from the starchy pith of the stems of Metroxylon sagu, of the family Arecaceae. Other important species that yield sago starch are: Arenga saccharifera, Borassus flabellifer, Caryota urens, Metroxylon koenigii, M. leave and M. rumphii, all Arecaceae; Manihot esculenta, of the family Euphorbiaceae; and Cycas species, of the family Cycadaceae, a gymnosperm. Starchy pith is removed after the trees are cut, and, after washing, the starch is freed by sedimentation. Dried, it is known as sago flour; it is made into a flour and then dried in the sun or in ovens to obtain shiny, granular starch, called pearl sago. Both are used almost entirely for food purposes, like khir, kanji, payasam, kesari, uppuma, vaangibath, sago curd bhath, vadam (pappad), macaroni and spaghetti.
4. Spices and Condiments

Spices and condiments are flavoring agents obtained from plants. They are difficult to distinguish, so the terms are used interchangeably. Because they have little nutritive value, they are not classified as foods. They contain essential oils, which impart flavor and aroma to food and add greatly to the pleasure of eating. They stimulate the appetite and increase the flow of gastric juices. For these reasons they are often referred to as food accessories or adjuncts. The important spice- and condiment-yielding trees are shown in Table III.
5. Nonalcoholic Beverages
Beverage plants are those plants which yield beverages or drinksnonalcoholic or alcoholicthat are palatable and refreshing. Nonalcoholic beverages usually contain caffeine, an
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Table II Sugar-yielding trees

Family Aceraceae Aceraceae Remarks Incisions are made through the bark into the sapwood or large roots and sap is collected, usually in March and April, when temperatures reach 25 F at night and 55 F during the day; sugar is sucrose In wild date palm sugar is obtained from tender upper portions of the stem; the tips of inflorescences or stems are cut and sweet sap that oozes out and collected is called toddy; its sugar content is about 14%; it is boiled and cooled to obtain hard crude sugar called jaggary, and it can be fermented to make the beverage called arrack; sugar is sucrose
Common name
Genus and species
Sugar and sap from sweet sap of maples Sugar maple Acer saccharum Black maple Acer nigrum
Sugar from unopened inflorescences of palms Date palm Phoenix dactylifera Wild date palm Phoenix sylvestris Palmyra palm Borassus flabellifer Coconut palm Cocos nucifera Toddy palm Caryota urens Gomuti palm Arenga pinnata Honey palm Jubaca chinensis Nipa palm Niga fruticans Aceraceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Aceraceae Present in edible fruits of many trees and shrubs Present in edible fruits of many trees and shrubs Oleaceae
Glucose, dextrose or grape sugar
Fructose, levulose or fruit sugar
Manna or mannose Manna ash tree
Fraxinus ornus
The juice oozes out from slits made in the bark and dries into flakelike a sweet substance called manna, used mainly in medicine Secreted by attractive flowers of many species in various families; mainly sucrose, with some glucose and fructose; main food of bees, which partially digest it; it is thus converted into honey; containing 7075% invert sugar, proteins, mineral salts and water, honey is an excellent food for humans and is used in medicine, in the tobacco industry and in the preparation of mead, a fermented beverage
Nectar Gulabi kachnar Bottle brush Horse chestnut Jamun Neem Shisham Soapnut Tun Barna Chinese tallow Caesalpinae Myrtaceae Hippocastanaceae Myrtaceae Meliaceae Fabaceae Sapindaceae Meliaceae Capparidaceae Euphorbiaceae
Bauhinia purpurea Callistemon lanceolatum Aesculus indica Eugenia jambolana Azadirachta indica Dalbergia sissoo Sapindus spp. Cedrela toona Crataeva religiosa Sapium sebiferum
Source: Information on nectar-yielding trees is from Randhawa, 19651983.
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Table III Spice- and condiment-yielding trees

Common name Cassia, vern. tejpat Dalchini or Ceylon cinnamon Sassafras Cloves Allspice Juniper berries Star anise or anasphal Nutmeg (seed or kernel) and mace (aril) Sweet bay or laurel Genus and species Cinnamomum cassia, syn. C. tamala Cinnamomum zeylanicum Sassafras albidum Syzygium aromaticum Pimenta dioica Juniperus communis and other species Illicium verum Myristica fragrans Laurus nobilis Family Lauraceae Lauraceae Lauraceae Myrtaceae Myrtaceae Cupressaceae Apiaceae Myristicaceae Lauraceae Part used Bark Bark Root bark Unopened flower buds Fruits Mature cones Fruit Seeds Leaves
alkaloid, which has stimulating and refreshing qualities. Alcoholic beverages are those that contain one or more hydroxyl (OH) groups; e.g., ethanol (CH3CH2OH). They may be fermented or distilled. Fruit juices and other beverages that contain neither caffeine nor alcohol are called soft drinks. They have a high sugar content and thus are a good source of energy. The important nonalcoholic-beverage woody plants are shown in Table IV.
6. Fumitories, Masticatories and Narcotics

Some narcotic substances are smoked or chewed by humans for pleasure or to seek a world full of new sensation or some flight from reality. Narcotic substances that are used for smoking purposes are called fumitories, and those that are used for chewing purposes are called masticatories. They have a distinct stimulating or even narcotic effect due to the presence of various alkaloids. They are also used in religious ceremonies. The important woody plants of these categories are shown in Table V.
7. Medicines
Several trees are a source of important drugs. These are obtained from the bark of Bauhinia variegata (kachnar), Barringtonia acutangula (hijjal), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (dalchini), C. calisaya, C. ledgerina, C. officinalis, C. robusta, C. succirubra (all yielding quinine), Mimusops elengi (maulsari), Myrica nagi (kaiphal), Symplocos racemosa (lodh), Saraca indica (ashok), Terminalia arjuna (arjun) and Toddalia asiatica (kanj). The stems and wood of Acacia catechu (katha), Pinus roxburghii (chir) and Santalum album (safed chandan) yield drugs. Drugs are also obtained from the fruit of Aegle marmelos (bael), Cassia fistula (amaltas), Emblica officinalis (amla), Terminalia bellerica (bahera) and T. chebula (harar). The seeds of Croton tiglium (jamalgota), Pongamia pinnata (karanja), Ricinus communis (arand) and Strychnos nux-vomica (kuchla) are also used for obtaining drugs.
8. Essential Oils
Like all other necessities of humans, oils are one of the main necessities of daily life. India holds a prominent position in the world oil industry. Oils are of two types: essential, volatile or
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Table IV Important beverage-yielding woody plants

Family Rubiaceae Coffee seeds called beans 11.5 Part used Caffeine content (%)
Common name
Genus and species
Coffee
34.5 2 34
Cocoa or chocolate Mat or Paraguay tea Guarana Cola Cassine Yoco Coca and cocaine
Coffea arabica, C. canephora, C. liberica, C. robusta, C. stenophylla Theobroma cacao Ilex paraguariensis Paullinia cupana Cola nitida Ilex vomitoria Paullinia yoco Erythroxylon coca Sterculiaceae Aquifoliaceae Sapindaceae Sterculiaceae Aquifoliaceae Sapindaceae Erythroxylaceae Seeds Leaves Seeds Seeds Fresh or dried leaves and shoots Bark Dried leaves
Table V Trees used as fumitories and mascatories

Family Ebenaceae Arecaceae Mimosaceae Sterculiaceae Remarks Dried leaves used for wrapping the tobacco and as a fumitory Betal nuts (drupes) chewed along with pan (leaves of Piper betle) Katha obtained from heartwood applied to pan (leaves of Piper betle) Seeds of cola tree used as a masticator in tropical Africa; it contains 2% caffeine, essential oil and a glucoside, chelonian, which is a heart stimulant
Common name
Genus and species
Bidi or tendu Areca, betal nut or supari Catechu, katha, khair or khadira Cola or kola nuts
Diospyros melanoxylon Areca catechu Acacia catechu Cola nitida
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Table VI Differences between essential and fatty (fixed) oils

Essential oils They evaporate or volatilize in contact with air and hence are called volatile oils They can be readily removed from the plant tissues without any change in their composition and hence are called distilled oils They possess a pleasant taste, have a strong, aromatic odor and may be colored They are typically liquids Fatty (fixed) oils They do not evaporate or become volatile when they come into contact with air and hence are called nonvolatile oils They cannot be distilled without being decomposed and hence are called expressed oils They do not possess a strong taste or odor and are colorless At normal (room) or high temperatures they are either liquids or fluids and are called oils; at normal or cold temperatures they may be solids or semisolids and are called fats. Quite obviously, what is an oil in a warm climate may be a fat in a cold climate. Chemically these vegetable fatty oils are close to animal fats. They consist of glycerine and fatty acid, which is an oleic acid if it is an oil but stearic or palmatic acid if it is a fat. They generally do not possess antiseptic properties Most of them are edible and are available as food for humans When a fat is boiled with an alkali, it decomposes and the fatty acid unites with an alkali to form soap. If potash or lye is used, a soft soap is obtained; if soda is used, a hard soap is obtained. They can be obtained by a combination of expression and extraction, but not by distillation
They are very complex in their chemical composition. The two principal groups are terpenes, which are hydrocarbons, and oxygenated and sulphuretted oils. They have antiseptic qualities They are used for diverse purposes, but not as food Soap is not formed when they are treated with an alkali
They can be obtained by distillation, expression or extraction
distilled oils; and fatty, nonvolatile, expressed or fixed oils. These two types of oils can be distinguished in Table VI. Essential oils are by-products of carbohydrate and fat metabolism and occur in some 60 families. The important ones are Apiaceae (= Umbellifereae), Asteraceae (= Compositae), Fabaceae (= Leguminosae), Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae (= Labiatae), Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, Poaceae (= Graminae) and Rutaceae. They occur in small concentrations, from minute traces to as much as 12%, or even more, in specialized cells, glands or ducts, either in one particular organ of the plant or distributed over many parts. They may be present in flowers (e.g., roses), fruits (e.g., oranges), leaves (e.g., eucalyptus), bark (e.g., cinnamomum), roots (e.g., ginger), woods (e.g., cedar) or seeds (e.g., cardamon) and many resinous exudations. The utility of essential oils to the plant itself is obscure. The characteristic aroma and flavor they impart to flowers, fruits and seeds probably attract insects and other animals, which play an important role in pollination and/or in the dispersal of fruits and seeds. When essential oils are present in high concentrations, the unpleasant odor may serve to repel enemies like parasites, animals and insects. The essential oils may have antiseptic and bactericidal properties
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and may thus act as a wound fluid. They affect transpiration and other physiological processes by minimizing the effect of heat on transpiration. They play a vital role as hydrogen donors in oxido-reduction reactions as potential sources of energy. Because of their odor and high volatility, essential oils are also put to a variety of uses by humans. They are extensively used in the manufacture of perfumes, sachets, soaps and other toilet preparations. The perfumes are stored in closed, compactly filled containers since they deteriorate due to oxidation and polymerization when they come into contact with air. In confectionary and aerated waters they are used as flavoring materials or essences for ice creams, candies, cordials, liqueurs, nonalcoholic beverages, tobacco, etc. They are very valuable in medicine, dentistry and pharmaceuticals because of their therapeutic, antiseptic and bactericidal properties. They are used as insecticides and deodorants, as solvents in paint and varnish industries and in the manufacture of several synthetic odors and flavors, such as attars and scents. Some of the essential oils (e.g., clove oil) are used as clearing or cleaning agents in histological work. They are also used in such diversified products as chewing gum, toothpaste, dhoop, agar batis, incense, shoe polish, library paste and fish glue. The important essential oilyielding trees are listed in Table VII.
9. Fatty Oils and Vegetable Fats

Vegetable fatty oils are called fixed oils or nonvolatile oils because they do not evaporate or become volatile like the essential oils. They are also called nondistilled oils because they cannot be distilled without being decomposed. Chemically, fatty oils consist of glycerin in combination with a fatty acid. The so-called fats or tallows are solids at ordinary temperatures and contain stearic or palmitic acid. Their iodine number (the number of grams of iodine absorbed by 100 g of the fats in a medium in which it is soluble) is below 70. On the other hand, oils are liquids at ordinary temperatures and contain oleic acid. Oils are of three types: drying, semidrying and nondrying. The drying oils are able to absorb oxygen and, on exposure, dry into thin elastic film. They are used mainly in the paint and varnish industry. Their iodine number is higher than 150. The semidrying oils absorb oxygen slowly and only in limited amounts. They form a soft film only after long exposure. Their iodine number is between 100 and 150. The nondrying oils remain liquid at ordinary temperatures and do not form a film. Their iodine number is between 70 and 100. The fatty oils are insoluble in water but soluble in various organic solvents. When a fat is boiled with an alkali, it decomposes, and the fatty acid unites with the alkali to form soap. If soda is used, a hard soap is obtained; and if potash or lye is used, a soft soap is obtained. When fats break down, they yield fatty acids and glycerin, of which they are composed, and usually develop a rancid odor and taste. The fatty oils are bland (balmy) and lack the strong taste, odor and antiseptic qualities of essential oils. Thus they are available as indispensable articles in human food. Important species that yield fatty oils and vegetable fats are listed in Table VIII.
10. Waxes
Waxes are quite similar to fats but are esters of monohydric alcohols rather than glycerides. They are harder than fats and have a high melting point. They are less easily hydrolyzed and do not become rancid. Waxes are usually found on the epidermis of leaves and fruits. They serve to prevent excessive loss of water through transpiration, because of their impervious character. The commercially important waxes obtained from trees are shown in Table IX. Wax is also obtained from the leaves of the raffia and licuri palms, sugarcane and esparto.
Table VII Essential-oil-yielding trees

Family Annonaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae Rutaceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Ylang-ylang
Cananga odorata
Neroli: true oil of neroli or neroli bigarade Neroli Portugal Mandarin oil
Citrus aurantium
Oil is extracted from flower petals. Cananga oil is used in some of the finest perfumery creations in France; cheaper grades are used in soap making. Oil is extracted from flowers of the sour orange
Citrus sinensis Citrus reticulata
Petitgrain oil
Oil is extracted from flowers of the sweet orange Oil from peels is used in confectionery, toilet products and pharmaceutical preparations Oil extracted from leaves and twigs is used to add a pleasant bouquet to scents, cosmetics, skin creams and soaps Oil extracted from ripe peels is used to add a pleasant bouquet to scents, cosmetics, skin creams and soaps
Orange oil
Rutaceae
Bergamot Burseraceae Burseraceae Lauraceae Lauraceae Santalaceae
Rutaceae
Mexican linaloe
Mysore linaloe
Citrus spp.; in India, C. aurantium, C. limettoides Citrus spp.; in India, C. aurantifoli, C. reticulata Citrus aurantium subsp. bergamia Bursera penicillata, B. glabrifolia Bursera penicillata
Cayenne linaloe
Aniba panurensis
Brazilian bois de rose
Sandalwood oil, vern. safed chandan
Ariba rosaeodora var. amazonia Santalum album and related spp.
Champaca oil
Michelia champaca
Magnoliaceae
Greenish oil extracted from ripe peels has a soft, sweet odor and is used for scenting toilet soaps, in mixed perfumes and as a clearing agent Very aromatic oil extracted from the wood is widely used in perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, etc. and for flavoring food and beverages Very aromatic oil extracted from husks of berries is widely used in perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, etc. and for flavoring food and beverages Very aromatic oil is widely used in perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, etc. and for flavoring food and beverages Very aromatic oil extracted from the wood is widely used in perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, etc. and for flavoring food and beverages Oil extracted from the wood is largely used as a perfume and in soaps, face creams and toilet powders. In medicine it has cooling, diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant properties. An excellent fixative, it is much used in blends. The sweet-scented wood is utilized for boxes and chests. One of the most famous perfumes of India, it is used for various purposes
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Table VII, continued

Family Lauraceae Remarks
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Common name
Genus and species
Camphor, camphor gum, mushkapur, camphor oil
Cinnamomum camphora
Cedarwood oil
Juniperus virginiana Cupressaceae
Deodar oil
Cedrus deodara, Juniperus macropoda Pinaceae, Cupressaceae Myrtaceae
Clove oil, vern. loungka-tel Pinaceae
Syzygium aromaticum
Oil of turpentine, pine oil
Pinus spp.
Cinnamon oil Myrtaceae
Cinnamomum zeylanicum Lauraceae
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus citriodora, E. dives, E. globulus, etc. Myristicaceae
Nutmeg oil
Myristica fragrans
Camphor is solid with tough, white, translucent granule-like masses at ordinary temperatures. Extracted from the wood, twigs and leaves, it is used in the manufacture of celluloid, nitrocellulose compounds and expensive perfumes and in medicine for inflammations, rheumatic pains and sprains, as a cardiac stimulant and to relieve diarrhoea. The by-product is called safrole. Oil extracted from the heartwood is valuable as a clearing agent in the preparation of permanent microscopic mounts and for use with oil-immersion lenses because of its high refractory index. It is also used in soaps, perfumes, liniments, deodorants and cleaning and polishing preparations and as an adulterant of geranium and sandlewood oils. Because of its insecticidal properties it is utilized as a moth repellent and in fly sprays. The variants of cedarwood oil used in India are obtained from chips, sawdust or wood of Cedrus deodara and from the shavings and sawdust of Juniperus macropoda Oil extracted from flower buds is used in perfumes, soaps, confectionery and medicine, as a stimulant, carminative and in flatulence and as a clearing agent in histological work for microscopy Oil from resins is used in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, disinfectants, paints, linoleum, sealing wax, oilcloth, lubricating compounds, inks, etc. Oil from chips and waste bark is used in the preparation of cinnamon quills and as denitifrices and perfumes Oil from the leaves and terminal branchlets is a source of citronellal, citronellol and menthol. It is widely used in perfumery, as a mosquito repellent, germicide and disinfectant and in medicine in the treatment of asthma and bronchitis. Oils from nutmeg (the aromatic kernels) and mace (the arils) of the fruits of Myristica fragrans (vern. jaiphal) are used externally to treat rheumatism and in soaps and perfumes. Oil obtained from the leaves is used in the preparation of chewing gum, flavoring essences and cosmetics.
Macassar oil
Schleichera trijuga Sapindaceae
Agar oil, agar attar
Aquillaria agallocha Thymelaeaceae
Keora oil, attar of kewda, attar keora, keora water, sandali attar, kewda or oil kewda Cajeput oil Myrtaceae
Pandanus tectorius (= P. odoratissimus) Pandanaceae
Extracted from seeds of the gum-lac tree (vern. gausam), the oil has a valuable stimulating and cleansing effect on the scalp, promoting hair growth. It is also used to cure skin diseases, itches, rheumatism and headaches. Agar oil, from resinous portions of the wood, is pale yellow to brownish yellow or dark amber in color. It is used in perfumery and as an incense. True agar is heavier than water. Screwpine flowers are unusually large: a single flower weighs up to 150 g. The oil is used in the preparation of fragrant hair oils, perfumes, etc.
Melaleuca leucadendron
Elengi oil
Mimusops elengi Sapotaceae
Oil extracted from fresh leaves and twigs is used in pharmaceuticals as throat lozenges, gargles, etc. and in medicine as a remedy for colds, throat diseases, headaches, etc. The essential oil, from bulletwood flowers, is a pale yellow, mobile liquid with a very delicate, sweet and tenacious floral odor. It is used in the manufacture of perfumes.
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Table VIII Fatty-oil- and vegetable-fat-yielding trees

Family Euphorbiaceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Drying oils from seeds Tung oil
Aleurites fordii, A. montana
Kekuna, candle nut, lumbang oil Walnut oil Juglandaceae Guttiferae Meliaceae Rosaceae
Aleurites moluccana Euphorbiaceae
Used in the paint and varnish industry; also used for waterproofing wood, paper and fabrics, and therefore valuable for outdoor paints Used in making paint, varnish, lacquer, linoleum and soft soap
Juglans regia
Laurelwood oil Margosa oil Oiticia oil
Calophyllum inophyllum Azadirachta indica Licania rigida
Mature and old kernels yield a drying oil. An edible oil, it is also used for white paint, artists oil paints, printing ink and soap. Used as an illuminant, for soap making and to treat rheumatism Used as an antiseptic and for burning purposes Used in the paint and varnish industry; also used in making linoleum and printing inks and for improving the elasticity of rubber products
Nondrying oils from seeds Castor oil Euphorbiaceae
Ricinus communis
Olive oil
Olea europaea Oleaceae
Used as a purgative, a lubricant and an illuminant; also used in soaps, the textile industry, typewriter inks, perfumes, varnishes and paints Used mainly as salad and cooking oil; also used in soap making, as a lubricant and in medicine
Vegetable fats Coconut oil Arecaceae
Cocos nucifera
Palm oil, palm-kernel oil
Elaeis guineensis Arecaceae
Dried coconut meat yields oil. Refined coconut oil is edible. Used for cooking, confectionery, making candy bars, soap, cosmetics, shaving cream, shampoo and other toilet preparations and also as an illuminant. Extracted from the fibrous pulp of nuts and from kernels. Used in making soap and margarine and as a fuel for diesel engines; also used for making glycerin, shampoo, soap and candles.
Mahua oil, mowra or bassia fat; mahua or illipe butter
Madhuca indica Sapotaceae
Phulwara butter
Diplokneura butyracea (= Madhuca butyracea) Sapotaceae
Carapa oil Nutmeg butter Papilionaceae Arecaceae Arecaceae Arecaceae Arecaceae Sterculiaceae Sapotaceae Dipterocarpaceae Euphorbiaceae
Xylocarpus moluccensis Myristica fragrans Meliaceae Myristicaceae
Pongam oil
Pongamia pinnata
Babassu oil
Cohune oil
Orbignya martiana, O. oleifera Orbignya cohune
Licuri oil
Syagrus coronata
Murumuru oil
Cocoa butter
Astrocaryum murumuru, A. tucuma, A. vulgare Theobroma cacao
Shea butter
Butyrospermum parkii
Borneo tallow
Shorea aptera
Chinese vegetable tallow
Sapium sebiferum
Macassar oil Ucuhuba butter, otoba butter
Schleichera oleosa Virola spp.
Sapindaceae Myristaceae
Oil obtained from seeds is used mainly in the manufacture of laundry soap and also in making candy, in the jute industry, and to treat skin diseases, rheumatism, headache, constipation, piles, etc. Oil obtained from seeds is used mainly in the manufacture of laundry soap and also in making candy, in the jute industry, and to treat skin diseases, rheumatism, headache, constipation, piles, etc. Oil obtained from seeds is used for soap and as an illuminant Seeds contain about 40% of a yellow fat, used in soap, ointment, perfumes and candles and also to treat rheumatism Oil obtained from seeds is used for soap making, as an illuminant, and in the treatment of skin diseases and rheumatism Oil obtained from nuts is used as a substitute for coconut oil and for making bullet-proof glass, explosives and lubricants Oil obtained from nuts is used as a substitute for coconut oil and for making bullet-proof glass, explosives and lubricants Oil obtained from nuts is used as a substitute for coconut oil and for making bullet-proof glass, explosives and lubricants Oil obtained from nuts is used as a substitute for coconut oil and for making bullet-proof glass, explosives and lubricants Fat obtained from beans is used for cosmetics and perfumes, as a base for ointments and as a lubricant for massaging The fat is edible and is used as a substitute for cocoa butter and in making soap and candles Fat from kernels is used for soap making and as a substitute for cocoa butter Obtained from a thick layer of hard, white fat on seeds, it is used in soap, cosmetics and candles. Seeds yield drying oil, used for paints, varnishes and plastics and as an illuminant. Oil from seeds is used in cooking, as a hair oil and for illumination Used for various purposes
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Table IX Wax-yielding trees

Family Arecaceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Carnauba wax
Copernicia cerifera
Wax tree Myrtle wax Anacardiaceae
Ceroxylon andicola Myrica pensylvanica, M. cerifera Arecaceae Myricaceae
Japanese wax
Rhus succedanea
The most important vegetable wax from the wax palm tree (the tree of life in Brazil), it occurs as an exudation on leaves and is used in the manufacture of candles, soap, high-luster varnish, paint, car wax, shoe polish, carbon paper, batteries, insulation, phonograph records, salve, sound film, ointment, etc. Used as a substitute for carnauba wax Berries are covered with thick layer of wax, used for the manufacture of soap and candles with a pleasant fragrance Berries yield wax, used in the manufacture of candles, wax matches, pencils, leather, furniture polish, soap and lipstick and in the vulcanization of rubber
Table X Saponin-yielding trees

Family Sapindaceae Remarks Used as a soap substitute for washing hair and woolen, silken and other delicate fabrics; also used in the preparation of hair tonic Dried inner bark contains 9% saponin, used for washing delicate fabrics, cleaning lenses and precision instruments, as an expectorant and emulsifying agent in medicine and in the manufacture of shampoo, cosmetics and hair tonic
Common name
Genus and species
Soap nut or soap berries, vern. ritha Soapbark Rosaceae
Sapindus emarginatus, S. mukorossi, S. saponaria Quillaja saponaria
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11. Soap Substitutes

Saponins are a group of water-soluble glucosides that yield soap froth in water, form emulsions with oils and fats, and are capable of absorbing large amounts of gases such as carbon dioxide. Because of these properties they are used for cleansing and other purposes, both at home and in industry. The important saponin-containing trees are listed in Table X. It may be added here that leaves of a familiar garden plant, bouncing bet or soapwort (Saponaria officinalis, family Caryophyllaceae), when placed in water, produce a lather that is utilized for washing and imparting luster to silk and woolen fabrics. Similarly, bulbs of the Californian soaproot (Chlorogalum pomeridianum, family Liliaceae) yield a good lather, which is utilized for washing fabrics.
12. Vegetable Ivory

The seeds of Phytelephas macrocarpa, in the family Arecaceae, commonly called ivory nut or tagua palm tree, is the chief source of vegetable ivory. It is extensively used as a substitute for true ivory. It can be carved and used in the manufacture of buttons, chess pieces, poker chips, dice, knobs, inlays, billiard balls, toys, etc. Metroxylon amicarum, in the Arecaceae family, can likewise be used for these purposes.
13. Fodder
The leaves of trees and shrubs are rich in calcium and phosphorus. Although considered inferior to grasses, trees in different parts of India are lopped for fodder, especially when grasses are scarce. The important fodder-yielding trees are Acacia nilotica (= A. arabica), A. catechu, Acer spp., Aegle marmelos, Bauhinia variegata, Celtis australis, Dendrocalamus strictus, Ficus glomerata, F. religiosa, Grewia spp., Helicteres isora, Kydia calycina, Leucaena leucocephala, Melia azedarach, Millettia auriculata, Morus australis, M. serrata, Ougeinia oojeinsis, Populus ciliata, Quercus glauca, Q. incana, Zizyphus mauritiana and Z. nummularia (Singh, 1982; Anonymous, 1983).
14. Fuel, Bioenergy or Biofuel

Bioenergy is the energy available from biological sources, both living and immediate remains. Fuel is any material that burns readily in air. Biofuels are materials of biological origin that are used for producing heat and other forms of energy. Fuel is a great necessity of modern life. Wood, peat and coal, which represent three stages in the carbonization of the original woody plant tissue, are important fuel substances. Because their moisture content is lower than that of green wood, seasoned or oven-dried wood makes excellent fuel: 99% of it is combustible, so it leaves only a small amount of ash. Hardwoods, such as ash, beech, hickory, maple and oak, which burn for a longer time and provide more uniform heat than does gymnospermic wood, are excellent fuelwoods. The mean calorific value of oven-dried Indian hardwoods is about 9000 btu. The different forms of energy that can be obtained from wood are shown in Table XI. The qualities needed for fuelwood are physical properties of the wood as well as environmental and silvicultural properties of the species. Small-diameter, thornless shrubs and trees, which are easy to cut with primitive tools and easy to transport, are generally preferred. Likewise, fuelwood that is easy to split and either has a low moisture content or dries rapidly is preferred over other wood, because considerable heat is lost in burning moist wood. Such wood is also nontoxic and produces less smoke. For health reasons, too, these are important
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Table XI Forms of energy obtained from wood

Process Direct burning Gasification Carbonization (the process of heating wood and converting it into carbon) Pyrolysis Hydrolysis, fermentation Gasification, synthesis Form of energy Heat, fire Producer gas Charcoal (has twice as much heating power as wood and burns without flame or smoke) Charcoal, gas, oil Ethanol Methanol
fuelwoods: ventilation is poor in village houses. While burning, wood should neither split nor spark. Wood density is positively correlated with the calorific value of fuelwood. A negative correlation also exists between wood density and growth rate, so fast-growing species generally have inferior burning properties. The best fuelwood species burn slowly and produce good heat from glowing charcoals. Acacia and Casuarina spp. are regarded as the best fuelwood species (Singhal & Khanna, 1991). Some common fuelwood species of India are Acacia catechu, A. leucocephala, A. nilotica var. cupressiformis, A. nilotica var. indica, Albizia amara, A. lebbek, Anogeissus latifolia, Azadirachta indica, Borassus flabellifer, Carrissa spinarum, Dalbergia sissoo, Delonix elata, Eucalyptus spp., Euphorbia spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, Moringa tinctoria, Morus serrata, Pithecellobium dulce, Prosopis juliflora, P. spicigera, Psidium guajava, Sesbania sesban, Syzygium cuminii, Tamarix indica, Thespesia populnea, Zizyphus mauritiana, etc. (Singhal & Khanna, 1991).
15. Fertilizers
Several species of nitrogen-fixing bacteria of Rhizobium, including R. leguminosarum, R. lupini, R. meliloti and R. phaseoli, live inside the root nodules of leguminous trees. Similarly, Frankia, a nitrogen-fixing mycelial bacterium, is associated symbiotically with the root nodules of several nonlegume plants, including Alnus, Casuarina, Coriaria, Myrica and Rubus. Both Rhizobium and Frankia are capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. When the roots of these plants decay, they enrich the soil with nitrogen salts.
16. Fibers
Botanically, a fiber is a special type of cell (sclerenchymatous) that has thick walls, a narrow lumen and tapering ends. Chemically, it is made up of cellulose and lignin. Commercially, a plant fiber is a strand consisting of one or hundreds of cells that varies in length from a fraction of a millimeter to 2 meters or more. Depending on how fibers are used, they can be classed as textile fibers (for fabrics, netting, cordage), brush fibers, plaiting and rough weaving fibers (for hats, sandals, baskets, chairs, etc.), filling fibers, natural fabrics and papermaking fibers. The important fiber-yielding woody plants, including trees and shrubs, are Abroma angusta, Abutilon spp., Acacia leucocephala, Ananas comosus, Antiaris toxicaria, Boehmeria nivea, Borassus flabellifer, Butea monosperma, Caryota urens (leaves), Cordia dichotoma, C. rothii, Ficus bengalensis, F. cunia, F. religiosa, Grewia glabra, G. elastica, G. optiva, G. tiliaefolia, G. vestita, Hardwickia binata, Hibiscus spp., Malachra capitata, Marsdenia volubilis, Pandanus spp. (leaves), Sterculia foetida, S. urens, S. villosa, Trema orientalis and Urena lobata.
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Most fibers are obtained from the bark of these plants. Silky flosses produced in the fruits of Bombax ceiba, Ceiba pentandra and Cochlospermum religiosum are also used as fibers for filling purposes. The well-known coir fiber is obtained from the fibrous mesocarp of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. It is coarse, stiff, buoyant and elastic and is therefore used for ship ropes, mats, brushes, ropes, etc. (Watt, 18891893; Anonymous, 1983; Maithani et al., 1991).
17. Pulp and Paper

An important use of fibers is in the manufacture of paper, which is playing an increasingly important role in modern civilized society. It can be divided into two categories: cultural paper (printing and writing paper) and industrial paper (packing and wrapping papers and boards). The word paper comes from the Latin papyrus (the name of Cyperus papyrus of the family Cyperaceae), a sedge plant, the pith of which was used for paper in Egypt as early as 2400 B.C. The Chinese, however, were the first to actually make the paper. In 1799 Louis Robert of France invented the papermaking machine, which was improved by Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier of London in 1803. The important and major raw materials of the pulp and paper industry are wood fibers (furnishing more than 90% of all the paper produced in the world), cotton and linen rags (yielding fine grades of paper, because of their high cellulose content), agricultural residues (bamboo, bagasse, straw, etc.) and waste paper (for recycled paper). Raw materials of minor importance are esparto grass (Stipa tebnacissima, family Poaccae), textile fibers (jute, hemp, coir, ramie, sisal hemp, sunn hemp, etc.), bast fibers of paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera, family Moraceae) and fibers of papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), baobab (Adansonia digitata) and Daphne cannabina. Chinese and Japanese rice paper is made from Tetrapanax papyriferum, Edgeworthia tomentosa and Wickstroemia canescens. Generally, softwood tracheids are preferred over hardwood fibers for papermaking because the tracheids of conifers are longer (about 24 mm) than are hardwood fibers (0.51.5 mm). Spruce wood is the most important raw material for pulp. Its fibers are long and strong, with a maximum content of cellulose. Almost free of resins, gums and tannins, it is light colored, sound and usually free of defects. The important species used are Picea rubens (red spruce), P. glauca (white spruce), P. sitchensis (sitka spruce), etc. The other important raw materials for pulp are pines, other conifers and hardwoods, like Pinus australis (yellow pine), P. banksiana (jack pine), Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock), T. heterophylla (western hemlock), Abies balsamea (balsam fir), A. concolor (white fir), Larix laricina (tamarack), Populus tremuloides and P. grandidentata (aspens), Fagus grandifolia (beech), Acer saccharum (sugar maple) and Betula lutea (birch). Although ancient Indian written records are on the leaves of the tree called bhojpatra (Betula alnoides, family Betulaceae), the art of papermaking in India started with the installation of first papermaking machine at Serampore in West Bengal in 1830. The main fibrous raw materials for papermaking are Bambusa arundinacea, Boswellia serrata, Dendrocalamus strictus, Eulaliopsis binata (Sabai grass) and Pinus roxburghii. These are followed by Abies pindrow, Adansonia digitata, Agave americana, Arundo donax, Bambusa polymorpha, B. tulda, Broussonetia papyrifera, Daphne papyracea, Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. hamiltonii, Eucalyptus citriodora, E. globulus, Ochlandra travancorica and Populus ciliata. The following Indian hardwood species are used for making bleachable pulp: Albizia lebbeck, Anogeissus latifolia, Chloroxylon swietenia, Gmelina arborea, Lannea coromandelica, Prosopis chilensis, Pterocarpus marsupium, Sesbania grandiflora, Sterculia urens, Tectona grandis and Terminalia bellerica.
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18. Tannins
Tannins are soluble, astringent, bitter and complex phenolic substances of plant origin. These are glycosidal in nature and acidic in reactions. They may be hydrolizable or condensed in nature. Whereas hydrolyzable tannins are easily split into alcohols and acids by water, condensed tannins are not, for they are made up of polymers of cyclic compounds. Tannins may be present in individual cells or in special containers known as tannin sacs. In individual cells, tannins are found in the cell sap or are impregnated in the cells walls, often accumulating in large quantities in dead tissues such as cork or present in bark, wood, leaves, roots, fruits and galls. The biological functions of tannins are not very clear. It is thought that tannins protect the protoplast against desiccation, decay and injury by animals. It may be concerned with the formation of cork or with protection of the plant. Economically, tannins are important in various ways. They have the ability to unite with certain types of proteins, such as those in animal skins (hides), to form a strong, flexible, resistant and insoluble substance known as leather. The process and art of converting raw hides and skins of animals into leather, usually through the use of certain chemicals, is called tanning. Tannins react with salts of iron to form dark blue, blue-black or greenish black compounds, which are the basis of tannin or writing inks. Tannins are also useful in medicine, because of their astringent nature. Tanning materials are often utilized in oil drilling to reduce the viscosity of the drill without reducing the specific gravity. Tannins may be obtained from the different parts of the trees, as shown in Table XII.
19. Dyes
Dyes are colored compounds (pigments) that are capable of being fixed to fabrics permanently; i.e., they neither fade on exposure to light nor wash out with soap. Therefore, a colored organic substance is not necessarily a dye. For example, trinitrotoluene, which is yellow in color, cannot fix to a cloth and therefore is not a dye. On the other hand, picric acid, which is also yellow in color, can fix to a cloth and therefore is a dye. A large number of plants secrete or contain pigments, but only about 150 are commercially important. In addition, synthetic or aniline dyes are now obtained from coal-tar products. These are cheaper, brighter, more permanent and easier to use, and they offer a wider range of colors. Among the chief uses of dyes is in coloring fabrics in the textile industry, where they are used with weak salt solutions of various metals like iron, chromium, aluminum or tin. A fine layer of metallic oxide, which forms an insoluble compound with the dye, is deposited on the cloth. Such salts of metals that increase the adherence of various dyes to the fabrics are called mordants. These actually form a chemical bridge between the fiber molecules and the dye. Dyes are also used for coloring paints, varnishes, leather, ink, paper, wood, furs, food, cosmetics and medicines. A partial list of important dye-yielding trees in given in Table XIII.
20. Rubber and Other Latex Products

Rubber is obtained from the milky juice or latex of various tropical or subtropical woody plants. Latex is a gummy white liquid full of minute globules, a mixture of water, hydrocarbons, resins, oils, proteins, acids, salts, sugars and caoutchoue, a substance used as a source of rubber. Rubber is a polyterpene consisting of a long chain of thousands of isoprene (hydrocarbon) units. The tissue containing latex is called laticiferous tissue. It consists of latex cells or latex coenocytes and latex vessels, the latter being formed by the fusion of many latex cells. Laticifers occur in bark, leaves and other softer parts of trees.
Table XII Tannin-yielding trees

Family Rhizophoraceae Mimosaceae Remarks Bark is very hard and heavy and contains 2233% tannin; extract is the cheapest source of tanning material
Common name
Genus and species
Tannins obtained from bark Mangrove
Wattle
Aegiceras corniculatum, Bruguiera conjugata, B. cylindrica, B. parviflora, Rhizophora candelaria Acacia dealbata, A. decurrens, A. leucocephala, A. mearnsii, A. mollis, A. nilotica, A. polyacantha Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Anacardiaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Rhamnaceae Rhizophoraceae Anacardiaceae Casuarinaceae Dipterocarpaceae Punicaceae Anacardiaceae Fagaceae Myrtaceae Pinaceae Pinaceae Pinaceae Podocarpaceae
Avaram Konnai bark Sumac Arjun Indian almond Jujube
Wattles contain 4050% tannin. Bark, removed when trees are 515 years old, is ground to a powder. Pods also contain tannin. Wattles yield a very firm, pink leather, used for soles. Contains 1823% tannin; used for tanning Contains 1012% tannin; used for tanning Used for tanning Contains 2024% tannin; used for tanning Used for tanning Used for tanning Bark contains 2037% tannin; leaves, 915% Used for tanning Used for tanning Bark contains 39% tannin; used for tanning Bark and fruit used for tanning Used for tanning Bark contains 630% tannin; used for tanning Bark contains 3550% tannin Bark contain 830% tannin; used for tanning
Ceriops Cuddaph almond Casuarina Sal Pomegranate Hog plum Oak
Mallet Hemlock European larch Norway spruce Tanekaha bark
Cassia auriculata Cassia fistula Rhus mysurensis Terminalia arjuna Terminalia catappa Zizyphus mauritiana, Z. nummularia, Z. oenophlia Ceriops roxburghiana Buchanania lanzan Casuarina equisetifolia, C. suberosa Shorea robusta Punica granatum Spondias pinnata Lithocarpus densiflora, Quercus alba, Q. borealis, Q. infectorea, Q. leucotrichophora, Q. montana, Q. velutina Eucalyptus occidentalis Tsuga canadensis, T. heterophylla Larix decidua Picea abies Phyllocladus trichomanoides
353
Table XII, continued

Family Fagaceae Anacardiaceae Wood contains 3040% tannin Wood, known as axe breaker, is one of the hardest known woods; its specific gravity is 1.301.40. Wood contains 4060% tannin; used for tanning. 1025% tannin in leaves / leaf galls; used for tanning Used for tanning Leaves contain 3239% tannin; used for tanning Leaves contain 2035% tannin Nuts contain 3040% tannin; used for tanning Remarks
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Common name
Genus and species
Tannins obtained from wood Chestnut Quebracho
Castanea dentata, C. sativa Schinopsis balansae, S. lorentzii
Tannins obtained from leaves Sumac Anacardiaceae Anacardcaceae Combretaceae Anacardiaceae Combretaceae Euphorbiaceae Caesalpiniaceae Rhamnaceae Punicaceae Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpiniaceae Fagaceae Arecaceae
Smoke tree, Indian sumac Gumghatti, dhawa sumac Sicilian sumac
Rhus copallina, R. glabra, R. mysurensis, R. punjabensis, R. succedanea, R. typhina Cotinus coggyria Anogeissus latifolia Rhus coriaria
Tannins obtained from fruits Myrobalan
Emblic myrobalan
Terminalia bellerica, T. catappa, T. chebula, T. citrina, T. tomentosa Emblica officinalis
Divi divi Wild jujube Pomegranate Tora
Caesalpinia coriaria, C. digyna Zizyphus xylocarpa Punica granatum Caesalpinia spinosa
Algarobilla Valonia
Caesalpinia brevifolia Quercus macrolepsis
Tannin content 28% in fruit, 21% in twigs, 89% in stems, 22% in leaves Pods contain 4050% tannin; used for tanning Used for tanning Fruit shells and bark used for tanning Fruits contain 4351% tannin; used for tanning and making ink and as a black dye Used for tanning Sun-dried acorn cups contain 45% tannin; used for tanning Tannin content in roots is low (10%)
Tannins obtained from roots Palmetto
Sabal palmetto
Table XIII Dye-yielding trees

Family Caesalpiniaceae Mimosaceae Caesalpiniaceae Papilionaceae Moraceae Moraceae Fabaceae Papilionaceae Moraceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Dyes obtained from wood Logwood
Haematoxylon campechianum
Cutch
Acacia catechu, A. catechuoides, A. sundra
Caesalpinia echinata, C. sappan
Sappan wood, Brazil wood, Braziline Red sandalwood, red sanderswood, santaline Fustic
Pterocarpus santalinus
Chlorophora tinctoria
Osage orange
Maclura pomifera
Camwood Barwood Artocarpus
Baphia nitida Pterocarpus erinaceous, P. soyauxii Artocarpus heterophyllus, A. lakoocha Symplocaceae
Heartwood contains purplish red dye; with iron salts it becomes black; used for making inks and in histological work as a stain; also used for dyeing Heartwood contains 4469% catechin; used as a dyeing stuff, as a masticatory and in medicine; cutch is the byproduct Heartwood yields a red dye; used for dyeing cotton and wool and for preparing red ink Heartwood yields a red dye; used for dyeing cotton and wool and for preparing red ink Natural yellow, brown and olive dyes obtained from heartwood are used for dyeing Bright orange wood yields orange-yellow, gold and green dyes Redwood dye is obtained Yields shades of brown, red and violet dyes Yields bright yellow dye; used by Buddhist monks
Dyes obtained from leaves Lodh Chlorophyll a (C55H72O5N4Mg), Chlorophyll b (C55H70O6N4Mg); all green plants
Symplocos crataegoides
Yellow dye is obtained Used for coloring food, soap and similar products
Dyes obtained from roots and tubers Indian mulberry
Morinda angustifolia, M. bracteata, M. citrifolia, M. tinctoria
Rubiaceae
Roots yield red and yellow dyes
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Table XIII, continued

Family Euphorbiaceae Verbenaceae Fagaceae Rhamnaceae Papilionaceae Oleaceae Apocyanaceae Meliaceae Euphorbiaceae Bixaceae Apocyanaceae Guttiferae Yields red dye used for dyeing silk Yields yellow dye used in Holi festivals Yields orange dye used for coloring silk and cotton Yields blue dye Yields yellowish red dye used for dyeing cotton Red and tan dyes are obtained Yields yellow dye for coloring baskets Yields bright yellow dye used for dyeing Yields green dye used for dyeing silks and cottons Remarks
356
Common name
Genus and species
Dyes obtained from bark Bishopwood Teak Quercitron Lokao, buckthorn
Bischofia javanica Tectona grandis Quercus velutina Rhamnus globosa, R. utilis
Dyes obtained from flowers Flame of the forest, dhak Tree of sorrow Sweet indrajao Red cedar
Butea monosperma Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Wrightia tinctoria Toona ciliata
Dyes obtained from fruits Kamla, kamela Dyes obtained from seeds Annatto
Mallotus philippinensis
Bixa orellana
Dharauli
Wrightia tomentosa
Used for coloring foodstuffs as well as wools, paints, varnishes and soaps Yields yellow dye Pith, flowers, leaves and fruits yield a yellow emulsion used for making watercolors and gold-colored spirit varnishes for metals
Dyes obtained from different parts Gum resin, gamboge
Garcinia cambogia, G. cowa, G. hanburyi, G. morella, G. xanthochymus
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Laticifers are not known in gymnosperms. They are present in a large number of species and genera belonging to about 20 families, mostly dicotyledonous. Important rubber plants belong to Apocyanaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae. Latex performs five functions in plants: healing of wounds; protection (warding off the attack of animals) because of the presence of bitter or poisonous alkaloids; storage of food reserve (for nutrition); formation and storage of excretory products; and transport of materials (conduction or translocation or as a fluid reservoir). Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, coined the term rubber, owing to the fact that it could be used for removing pencil marks. In 1839 Charles Goodyear discovered the vulcanization process, in which sulphur is added to rubber to cross-link the molecules of isoprene chains. This process makes the latex impervious to weather conditions and improves its elasticity. Rubber is one of the best insulating and dielectric materials available. The important rubber-yielding woody plants are shown in Table XIV.
21. Gums
Gums contain large amounts of sugars and are closely allied to pectins. They are colloidal in nature and have the ability to dissolve in water and form a viscid solution (viscous liquids) or to absorb water and swell to form a gelatinous paste. On exposure to air these pastes dry to hard, clear, glassy masses by losing their water. Gums are insoluble in alcohol and ether. Gums exude naturally or in response to wounding from the stems and are formed by disintegration of internal tissues, mostly from the decomposition of cellulose through a process known as gummosis. They are mostly obtained from bark or secondary phloem. Gums are used in a variety of ways. The finer grades are utilized in finishing silk, clarifying liqueurs and preparing high-quality watercolors. The intermediate grades are used in printing inks, in sizing, finishing and dyeing textile fabrics, in confectionery and in the pharmaceutical industry. The cheaper grades are used as adhesives, in calico printing, in sizing of paper and in the paint industry. In the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries gums act as emollients or demulcents or serve to bind or emulsify mixtures in lotions, ointments and creams. They may add body and bulk to foodstuffs like commercial ice creams. Commercial gums are dried exudations of dry-region plants belonging to the Anacardiaceae, Combretaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae, Rosaceae and Rutaceae. One hundred or more species of Acacia alone are known to yield gum. The important gum-yielding trees are shown in Table XV.
22. Resins
Although resins resemble gum in superficial appearance, they differ in origin and chemical composition. Some resins are sticky, viscous liquids; others are hard, brittle, amorphous solids, generally clear or transparent but sometimes opaque. Important resin-yielding families, differences among three main types of resins and resin-yielding trees are presented in Tables XVI, XVII and XVIII, respectively. Resins represent oxidation products of various essential oils. They are complex and varied in their chemical composition. Chemically, they are polymerized terpenes that are usually mixed with volatile oils. Unlike gums, resins are insoluble in water but soluble in alcohol, ether, turpentine, spirit, carbon disulphide and other solvents. The latter property is utilized to form varnishes; when applied in thin films, the solvent evaporates, leaving behind a hard, waterproof layer of resin. Resins are fusible; that is, when heated they first soften and then melt to a more or less clear, sticky fluid. They are resistant to most reagents and to decay but, when ignited, burn with a smoky flame.
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Table XIV Rubber-yielding trees

Family Euphorbiaceae Moraceae Moraceae Euphorbiaceae Moraceae Apocyanaceae Euphorbiaceae Sapotaceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Elastic rubber Hevea or Par rubber
Hevea brasiliensis
Castilla or Panama rubber Caucho rubber Cear or Manicoba rubber Assam or India rubber
Castilla elastica Castilla ulei Manihot glaziovii Ficus elastica
Mangabeira Chilte rubber
Hancornia speciosa Cnidosceolus spp.
98% of the worlds rubber comes from this tree, which is native to Amazonia; in India it is a plantation crop in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Native to Mexico and Central America Native to Amazonia Native to Brazil; also grown in India Native to northern India and Malaysia; of low grade and little commercial value Native to Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay
Nonelastic rubber Gutta-percha
Pelaquium ellipticum, P. gutta, P. polyanthum Sapotaceae
Balata
Manilkara bidentata
Jelutong Chicle, sapodilla, naseberry
Dyera costulata Manilkara achras Apocyanaceae Sapotaceae
Sorva, leche caspe
Couma macrocarpa Apocyanaeae
Obtained from grayish white latex of this Malaysian tree; latex, present in sacs that occur in the cortex, phloem, pith and leaves, is used for insulation, submarine cables, golf balls, waterproofing and adhesives and as a substitute for chicle Native to Trinidad and South America; used for insulation, submarine cables, golf balls, waterproofing and adhesives and as a substitute for chicle A Malayasian tree; used as a substitute for chicle Native to the Yucatn Peninsula, cultivated in India; latex contains 2025% gutta-perchalike gum called chicle, which is the basis of the chewing gum industry; also used in making surgical tape and dental supplies A large Amazonian tree; used as a substitute for chicle
Table XV Gum-yielding trees

Family Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Sterculiaceae Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Gum arabic, kumta Khair Babul, acacia, kikar Acacia Son khair, kaiger Karaya, kandya, katira, kuteera, katillo, kullo, India or sterculia gum Combretaceae
Acacia senegal Acacia catechu Acacia nilotica Acacia modesta Acacia ferruginea Sterculia urens, S. villosa
Gum ghatti
Anogeissus latifolia
Gum locust, carob
Ceratonia siliqua Caesalpiniaceae
Cellulose gum, caboxymethyl cellulose gum; green plants Rutaceae Cohlospermaceae Cycadaceae Pinaceae Mimosaceae Rosaceae
Hog gum Cycas gum Larch gum Mesquite gum, kabuli kikar
Gum obtained from bark; used for all purposes mentioned in the text Gum obtained from bark; used for all purposes mentioned in the text Gum obtained from bark; used in confectionery Used in medicine and in printing calico Gum obtained from bark; used for all purposes mentioned in the text Gum obtained from heartwood; used as a substitute for gum tragacanth, also in the cosmetic and cigar industries in several emulsions, lotions, pastes and as a laxative; forms a strong adhesive gel with a little water Used as a substitute for gum arabic; also used in ceramics, foods and the petroleum industry, as a drilling mud conditioner, and in the explosives industry Not a true gum because it is obtained not from wounded woody tissues but from the endosperm of seeds; was used by Egyptians as an adhesive for binding mummies, now used in the food industry and for other purposes mentioned in the text Prepared by mixing purified cellulose with sodium monochloroacetate in an alkaline medium; extra whitening and brightening of detergents is due to this gum; also used in the paper, textile, food and paint industries Substitute for gum arabic Substitute for gum arabic; is edible Gum obtained from wood chips; used as a substitute for gum arabic Gum obtained from stems; used for printing calico Used as a substitute for gum arabic
Cherry gum
Limonia acidissima Cochlospermum religiosum Cycas circinalis Larix occidentalis Prosopis chilensis, P glandulosa, P. juliflora Prunus cerasoides, P. cerasus
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Table XV, continued

Family Burseraceae Styracaceae Anacardiaceae Papilionaceae Papilionaceae Papilionaceae Papilionaceae Meliaceae Rutaceae Dipterocarpaceae Guttiferae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Mimosaceae Rutaceae Anacardiaceae Combretaceae Combretaceae Yields amber or reddish brown gum Substitute for gum arabic Contains crystals of calcium carbonate Used as incense Gum obtained from stems; used as a hard-drying varnish Source of benzoic acid Used in printing calico and as sizing in the paper and textile industries Valuable medicine in diarrhea and dysentery Valuable medicine in diarrhea and dysentery Gum obtained from stems; used in cosmetics, printing calico and confectionery Gum obtained from stems; used in confectionery Gum obtained from trunk and branches; used as a substitute for gum arabic Remarks
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Common name
Genus and species
East Indian copal Gum benzoin, benjamin Jhingan gum Malabar kino gum Bengal kino
Canarium bengalense Styrax benzoin Lannea coromandelica Pterocarpus marsupium Butea monosperma Astragalus prolixus
Garmezu Gum neem Wood apple, kut bel
Astragalus strobiliferus Azadirachta indica Feronia limonia
Bialam Cowa
Anisoptera scaphula Garcinia cowa
Semla gond
Bauhinia retusa
Albizia gums
Gum obtained from trunk and branches; used for preparing yellow varnish Substitute for gum arabic; used for sizing cloth and paper and for waterproofing terraced roofs Used for various purposes
Bauhinia gums
Mango
Albizia chinensis, A. lebbek, A. odoratissima, A. procera Bauhinia purpurea, B. racemosa, B. variegata Chloroxylon swietenia Mangifera indica Terminalia bellerica Terminalia tomentosa
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Table XVI Resin-yielding families

Family Resin Gymnosperms Pinaceae Fossil conifers Calophony, balsam, Canada balsam, kauri-resin, manil copal, oleo-resin, sandarac Amber (from Pinus succinifera) Angiosperms Anacardiaceae Apiaceae Berberidaceae Burseraceae Caesalpiniaceae Convolvulaceae Dipterocarpaceae Guttiferae Hamamelidaceae Liliaceae Leguminosae (Fabaceae) Styracaceae Zygophyllaceae Mastic Ammoniacum, asafoetida, galbanum Podophyllum Elemi, frankincense, myrrh Copal Jalap, seamony Dammars Gamboge Storax Acaroid resin, aloes, dragons blood Balsam of perum, Congo copal, copaiba balsam, Peru balsam, tolu balsam Benzoin Guiacum
Table XVII Differences among three main types of resins

Hard resins Little, if any, essential oil Oleo resins Considerable essential oils as well as resinous materials Gum resins Mixture of both true gums and resins, thus contain small amounts of essential oils and traces of coloring matter Occur naturally as milky exudations, collected as tears or irregular masses May have an aroma and flavor
Usually solid, more or less transparent, brittle substances No particular odor or taste Nonvolatile and very poor conductors of electricity but become negatively electrified when friction is applied; readily fusible and burn in air with a smoky flame Common examples: copals, damars
More or less liquid in nature
Distinct aroma and flavor Volatile essential oil component
Common examples: balsams, elemis, turpentines
Common examples: anmoniacum, asafoetida, galbanum
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Table XVIII Resin-yielding trees

Family Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Hard resins Zanzibar copal, Madagascar copal, Mozambique copal Inhambane copal Congo copal, Angola copal Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Living as well as fossil in nature; light yellow Light yellow Locally called ogea gum in Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria Softest of all copals Living, semifossil or fossil in nature; yellow Living, semifossil or fossil in nature; yellow Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Araucariaceae Araucariaceae Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpaceae Burseraceae Dipterocarpaceae Dipterocarpaceae
Trachylobium verrucosum
Hardest of all copals except amber; living, semifossil or fossil in nature; yellowish to brownish red
Sierra Leone copal
Copaifera conjugata Copaifera aemeusii, C. mopane Copaifera copallifera, C. salikounda Daniella ogea Hymenaea courbaril
Agathis alba Agathis australis Hopea micrantha Balanocarpus heimii Shorea hypochra Shorea robusta
Accra copal, Benin copal South American copal, Demerara copal, Par copal Manila copal Kauri copal, kauri gum Damar mata kuching Damar penak Damar temak Sal damar, guggal dhuma, ral dhuma, lal dhuma Kala damar White damar, piney resin, Indian copal, dhupa Black damar Batavian damar Rock damar Used in varnishes
Shorea tumbuggaia Vateria indica
Canarium strictum Shorea wiesneri Hopea odorata
Used as an ingredient of samagri, which is burned in religious ceremonies Used as an incense and in marine yards as a substitute for pitch Used in medicine to treat chronic bronchitis, diarrhea and rheumatism Used as a substitute for burgundy pitch in medical plasters
Amber
Pinus (= Pinites) succinifera (principal source) Pinaceae
Amber
Hymenaea spp., Copaifera spp. (other sources) Fabaceae
Lacquer
Rhus verniciflua, R. succedanea Anacardiaceae
Burmese lacquer, thitsi Papilionaceae
Melanorrhoea usitata Anacardiaceae
Shellac
Butea monosperma, Cajanus cajan
Shellac
Schleichera oleosa Sapindaceae
Fossilized terpenoid resin occurring on the shores of the Baltic Sea, it is the only jewel of plant origin. It is exceedingly hard, brittle, yellow to brown or even black, transparent or opaque with a characteristic aromatic odor; when rubbed, it takes a high polish and becomes negatively charged. Used for beads, ornaments, mouthpieces of pipes and holders for cigars and cigarettes, etc. Sometimes organisms of the past are embedded in it. Fossilized terpenoid resin occurring on the shores of the Baltic Sea, it is the only jewel of plant origin. It is exceedingly hard, brittle, yellow to brown or even black, transparent or opaque with a characteristic aromatic odor; when rubbed, it takes a high polish and becomes negatively charged. Used for beads, ornaments, mouthpieces of pipes and holders for cigars and cigarettes, etc. Sometimes organisms of the past are embedded in it. Natural varnish exuded from Asiatic trees, it affords protection because it remains unchanged by acids, alkalis, alcohol or heat up to 160 F Rhus succedanea yields liquid resin from the mesocarp of fruits, which is used in ointments, wax varnishes, etc. Affords protection because it remains unchanged by acids, alkalis, alcohol or heat up to 160 F Not strictly a plant product but a resinous substance secreted on the twigs of many trees by the sap-feeding stick lac insect Tachardia lacca (lacca is derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, meaning lakh). Used in the manufacture of phonograph records, high-grade insulators, spirit varnish, sealing wax, drawing ink, watercolors, nitrocellulose lacquers and as sizing in paper and stiffening in felt hats. Not strictly a plant product but a resinous substance secreted on the twigs of many trees by the sap-feeding stick lac insect Tachardia lacca (lacca is derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, meaning lakh). Used in the manufacture of phonograph records, high-grade insulators, spirit varnish, sealing wax, drawing ink, watercolors, nitrocellulose lacquers and as sizing in paper and stiffening in felt hats.
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364
Table XVIII, continued

Family Remarks
Common name
Genus and species
Hard resins, continued Rhamnaceae
Shellac
Zizyphus xylopyrus
Shellac
Ficus religiosa Moraceae
Shellac
Acacia nilotica Mimosaceae
Acaroid or grass-tree resins
Xanthorrhoea hastilis, X. tateana, X. australis Liliaceae
Sandarac
Tetraclinis articulata, Callitris quadrivalvis
Cupressaceae
Not strictly a plant product but a resinous substance secreted on the twigs of many trees by the sap-feeding stick lac insect Tachardia lacca (lacca is derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, meaning lakh). Used in the manufacture of phonograph records, high-grade insulators, spirit varnish, sealing wax, drawing ink, watercolors, nitrocellulose lacquers and as sizing in paper and stiffening in felt hats. Not strictly a plant product but a resinous substance secreted on the twigs of many trees by the sap-feeding stick lac insect Tachardia lacca (lacca is derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, meaning lakh). Used in the manufacture of phonograph records, high-grade insulators, spirit varnish, sealing wax, drawing ink, watercolors, nitrocellulose lacquers and as sizing in paper and stiffening in felt hats. Not strictly a plant product but a resinous substance secreted on the twigs of many trees by the sap-feeding stick lac insect Tachardia lacca (lacca is derived from the Sanskrit word laksha, meaning lakh). Used in the manufacture of phonograph records, high-grade insulators, spirit varnish, sealing wax, drawing ink, watercolors, nitrocellulose lacquers and as sizing in paper and stiffening in felt hats. Resin collected around the bases of old leaves is yellow from the first species and red from the other species. Used in making sealing wax and spirit varnishes and as a substitute for rosin in paper sizing and ink; also as a source of picric acid and in medicine. Secreted in the form of small tears on the bark, it is hard, white and rather brittle. Used for coating labels, negatives, cardboard leather and metal and in dental cement, incense and fumigating powder.
Chios mastic
Pistacia lentiscus Pistaciaceae
Bombay mastic
Pistacia cabulica Pistaciaceae
Malbar, gum or Indian kino West African kino Bengal kino Gum kino Gum kino Moraceae Pinaceae
Fabaceae Fabaceae Fabaceae Myrtaceae Polygonaceae
Excreted from the bark in the form of long, ovoid, pale yellow, brittle tears. Used for coating metals and both oil and watercolor pictures; in the preparation of transparent varnishes and in chewing gum; also used in perfumery, medicine, lithographic work and as a cement for dental work. Dull, milk-colored resin. Used for coating metals and both oil and watercolor pictures; in the preparation of transparent varnishes and in chewing gum; also used in perfumery, medicine, lithographic work and as a cement for dental work. Used in medicine for throat troubles and in tanning Red resin, used in medicine for throat troubles and in tanning Used in medicine for throat troubles and in tanning Secreted between the wood and the bark Secreted between the wood and the bark White resin, used for poisoning arrows and in medicine Exuded from coniferous trees as a viscous, honey-like liquid or a soft, sticky substance called pitch. On distillation it yields essential oil (called oil or spirit of turpentine) and rosin (the residue). The oil is used in the paint and varnish industry, in printing cotton and wool, as a solvent for rubber and guttapercha, in medicine and in the manufacture of pine oil, terpineol, camphor, pine tar, vormeol, voneol acetate and other chemicals. The rosin, or colophony, is a brittle, friable, faintly aromatic, solid used in the manufacture of soap, varnish, paint, oilcloth, linoleum, sealing wax, adhesives, printers ink, floor and roof coverings, rubbers, drugs, plastics, etc. and as a sizing material for paper. Rosin oil is used as grease, a lubricant and a solvent.
Lesch
Pterocarpus marsupium Pterocarpus erinaceus Butea monosperma Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dipteryx odorata, Coccoloba uvifera Antiaris toxicaria
Oleoresins Turpentine, birja, biroja, lisha, lassa
Pinus australis, P. caribaea, P. ponderosa (in America); P. roxburghii, P. wallichiana, P. merkusii, P. insularis, P. kesiya (in India); P. pinaster, P. maritima (in France); P. pinaster, P. halepensis, P. nigra, P. pinea (in Spain); P. pinaster, P. pinea (in Portugal); P. halepensis (in Greece); P. sylvestris (in Russia, Poland and Germany)
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Family Remarks
366
Common name
Genus and species
Oleoresins, continued Venetian turpentine Pinaceae
Larix decidua
Bordeaux turpentine Pinaceae Pinaceae Pinaceae
Pinus pinaster Pinaceae
Strasbourg turpentine
Abies alba
Used in histology, lithographic work, varnishes and veterinary medicine; yellowish or greenish liquid with a characteristic taste and odor The residue, called Burgundy pitch, is a stimulant and counterirritant and is used in plastics, ointments and pharmaceuticals The residue, called Burgundy pitch, is a stimulant and counterirritant and is used in plastics, ointments and pharmaceuticals
Jura turpentine Canada balsam
Picea abies Abies balsamea
Oregon balsam
Pseudotsuga taxifolia Pinaceae
Spruce gum
Picea rubens Pinaceae
True turpentine (oleoresin) from the balsam fir, it is a viscid, yellowish or greenish substance used as a mounting medium for microscopic work and a cement for optical lenses; also used as an irritant, stimulant and antiseptic, as a component in collodion and many plasters and as a fixative for soap and perfumes. Technically, balsams are aromatic oleoresins that contain benzoic or cinnamic acid and are less viscous and contain less oil than turpentines. On distillation balsams yield essential oils that are used in medicine and as fixatives in the perfume industry. A viscid, yellowish or greenish substance used as a mounting medium for microscopic work and a cement for optical lenses; also used as an irritant, stimulant and antiseptic, as a component in collodion and many plasters and as a fixative for soap and perfumes Obtained from wood and bark, the oleoresin is thin, clean, bitter and sticky, hardens on exposure to air and has a pleasing, resinous taste. Used as a masticatory because it softens in the mouth and becomes reddish.
Balsam of Peru
Myroxylon pereirae Fabaceae
Balsam of Tolu
Myroxylon balsamum Papilionaceae
Levant styrax or storax
Liquidamber orientalis Hamamelidaceae
American styrax
Liquidamber styraciflua Hamamelidaceae
Siam benzoin, balsamic resin
Styrax benzoides, S. tankinense Styraceae
Sumatra benzoin
Styrax benzoin Styraceae
A dark, reddish brown, thick, viscous, syrupy liquid obtained by wounding the tree. Used in medicine for treating slow-healing wounds and skin diseases (especially during World War II) and, because of its stimulating and antiseptic effect on mucous membranes, for treating coughs, bronchitis, etc.; also used as a substitute for vanilla, as a fixative in perfumes and in the soap industry. The common name is a misnomer because the tree grows in Central America, not in Peru. A brown or yellowish brown, plastic substance with a pleasant aromatic taste and odor; used for almost the same purposes as balsam of Peru A semiliquid, sticky, grayish brown, opaque, aromatic substance obtained from inner bark by wounding the tree; used in cosmetics, soap, adhesives, lacquers and incense as a fixative, in perfumes and in medicine for the treatment of coughs and scabies A clear, thick, brownish yellow semisolid or solid substance obtained from inner bark by wounding the tree; used in cosmetics, soap, adhesives, lacquers and incense; as a fixative in perfumes; and in medicine for the treatment of coughs and scabies. India imports it from France. Yellowish or brownish, pebble-like hard and brittle tears with a milky white center and a strong, vanilla-like aroma; used as incense and in medicine as a stimulant, diuretic, carminative and expectorant; in the manufacture of perfume, soap, toilet water, lotion, tooth powder and fumigating materials; a source of benzoic acid Reddish or grayish brown tears that aggregate to form blocks or lumps; used as incense and in medicine as a stimulant, diuretic, carminative and expectorant; in the manufacture of perfume, soap, toilet water, lotion, tooth powder and fumigating materials; a source of benzoic acid
367

Family Remarks
368
Common name
Genus and species
Oleoresins, continued Copaiba, Copaiba balsam, capaiva Fabaceae
Copaifera spp., especially C. officinalis, C. reticulata
Gurjan balsam
Dipterocarpaceae
Obtained by boring holes into heartwood, it is a thin, clear, colorless liquid that turns yellow and viscid with age, is aromatic and has a bitter taste; used in making lacquer, varnish and tracing paper, as a fixative in perfume and soap; in photography for half-tones and shadows and in medicine as a laxative, disinfectant, diuretic and mild stimulant Thick, opaque and grayish, it is used in medicine and for caulking and varnishing boats Thick, very fragrant, pungent, pepper-like oleoresin Oozes from trunk bark in fragrant, white masses on tree trunks; used locally for torches, for caulking boats, in lithographic work, in the manufacture of cements, adhesives and ink, in perfume, in medicine, in plastics and ointments, and in the varnish industry to make products tough and elastic
Illurin balsam, African copaiba, Sierra Leone frankincense Manila elemi Burseraceae
Dipterocarpus alatus, D. indicus, D. turbintus Daniella oliveri, D. thurifera Canarium luzonicum Fabaceae
African elemi Mexican elemi Burseraceae
Burseraceae Rutaceae
Brazilian elemi
Mecca balsam Burseraceae Burseraceae
Burseraceae
Mexican linaloe Salai gum, Indian olibanum
Boswellia frereana Amyris balsamifera, A. elemifera Bursera gummifera, Protium heptaphyllum Commiphora opabalsamum Bursera penicillata Boswellia serrata:
A greenish, turbid oleoresin with an odor of rosemary; used in incense, perfumes and medicine Obtained from the aromatic fruits; used in perfume Used as an incense, in medicine for rheumatism, nervous diseases and ointments and as a fire lighter
Gum resins Ammoniacum Apiaceae
Dorema ammoniacum
Herabol myrrh
Commiphora myrrha Burseraceae
Bisabol, sweet myrrh Burseraceae Burseraceae
Commiphora erythraea Burseraceae
Gum resin
Commiphora caudata
Frankincense of olibanum
Boswellia carteri
Indian frankincense, luban
Boswellia serrata Burseraceae
Opopanax Opopanax Ceylon gambose, Indian gamboge
Commiphora kataf Opopanax chironium Garcinia hanburyi, G. morella Burseraceae Apiaceae Guttiferae Asclepiadaceae
Madar
Calotropis gigantea, C. hamiltonii
Exudes from stems and flowering branches as a milky juice that hardens on exposure to form brittle, brownish yellow tears, which occur singly or in masses; used in perfumery and in medicine as a circulatory stimulant Oozes from stems as a pale yellow liquid that hardens to form brown or black tears; used in perfumery, as a constituent of mouthwash and dentifrices and in medicine as a tonic, stimulant and antiseptic Used in incense, perfumes and embalming and as a constituent of Chinese joss sticks A pale yellow liquid that gradually solidifies and turns brown or black; used in medicine, as incense and for embalming Exudes from bark as a clear, yellow resin that hardens into small yellow grains; used in incense and perfumes and as a fixative for face powders, pastilles and fumigating powders Obtained from bark, the oleo-gum-resin contains: oily, turpentinic liquid, used as a substitute for turpentine oil; a rosin-like resin, used in the soap industry; and gum, used in printing calico Used in perfumery and in medicine An herb used in perfumery and in medicine Yellow emulsion obtained from the pith, leaves, flowers and fruits; used in preparing watercolors and gold-colored spirit varnishes and in medicine as a violent cathartic Used as a substitute for gutta-percha
369
370
Resins are very important in industry. Two types are used in manufacturing varnishes and lacquers. The first type comprises resins that, after melting, can be combined with linseed oil or turpentine and utilized for forming amber, copal and other oil varnishes. Oil varnishes are superior but costly. The word copal is of Mexican origin. In England many of the harder copals are known as animes. The copals are resins of recent semifossil or fossil tropical and subtropical tree species. They contain almost no oil and yield a hard, elastic varnish, which is much used for outdoor work. The second type of resins comprises those that dissolve in alcohol, turpentine or other volatile solvents. They are utilized for forming spirit varnishes, such as rosin, damar, sandarac, mastic and elemis. Spirit varnishes are less expensive and more easily prepared and applied. They produce brilliant, transparent finishes. All damars are used chiefly in spirit varnishes and in the manufacture of nitrocellulose lacquers. Damar varnishes are softer, less durable and adhere better. They are used mainly for varnishing paper because of their luster and light color. They are also used for indoor work and in histology. Elemi is a collective name for several oleoresins of different origin that exude as clear, pale liquids. Most tend to harden on exposure, but some may remain soft. Resinous substances have been used for waterproof coatings and also for decorative coatings for ages. The ancient Egyptians varnished their mummy cases, and the Incas utilized resins in their embalming mixtures. Resins are also used in the preparation of soapthey dissolve in alkali to form soapand in medicine, for sizing paper, as a stiffening material for mats, in the preparation of fixatives, incenses, perfumes, tobacco flavorings, sealing wax, plastics, linoleum, oilcloth, printers ink, adhesives, etc. Their combustible properties are utilized for making torches; their waterproofing qualities, for making boats. Resins tend to lessen the amount of water lost from the tissues of plants. Because of their antiseptic properties, resins prevent decay, and, when present in wood, add strength and durability. Resin is secreted in plant tissues in specialized canals or cavities called resin ducts, which are lined with a special layer of secretory cells, called the epithelial layer, that secrete resin into the cavity through a thin cuticular layer. Resin ducts may be present in leaves, wood and bark of stems. They normally ooze out through the bark and harden on exposure to air. Commercial resins, however, are extracted from artificial wounds or fossil materials.
23. Cork
Commercial cork is obtained from the outer bark (phellem) of cork oak, Quercus suber, an evergreen tree of the family Fagaceae. It is native to the western Mediterranean region: about 70% of the worlds commercial cork comes from Portugal alone. Cork is nothing more than thin-walled but strong cellulosic cell walls, which are heavily coated with suberin, a substance that is impervious to water. Cell lumens, which represent nearly 53% of the total cork volume, are filled with air, thus making cork very lightits specific gravity is 0.150.25. Cork is buoyant, light and highly compressible, but it is resilient, chemically inert to moisture and common liquids, resistant to deterioration, an excellent insulator, a nonconductor of electricity, a low thermal conductor and impervious to water and other liquids. It imparts no flavor or odor to substances, is slow to catch fire, absorbs sound and vibrations and has a high coefficient of friction. All of these properties render commercial cork invaluable in the world market, and it is used either as natural cork or as composition cork, the latter as linoleum, linotiles, binder-coated cork and cork (insulation) boards. Cork is used in the preparation of stoppers, hats and helmets, tips for cigarettes, carburetor floats, fishing-net floats, golf-club handles, penholders, fishing rods, life preservers, floats and life jackets, surf balls, seals for
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jars, sealing liners, shoe insoles, sporting goods, picture frames, small cork balls in referees whistles, etc.
24. Food for Silkworms

Mulberry silk accounts for 95% of the worlds silk production. It is produced by Bombyx mori L., which feeds on the leaves of mulberry plants. Morus is the Latin word for mulberry (French: muries; Italian: gelso; Japanese: lewwa). It belongs to the family Moraceae, of the order Unisexuales or Urticales. The following species of Morus are known in the world: acidosa, arabica, atropurpurea, australis, bombycis, boninensis, cathayama, celtidifolia, cordatifelia, indica, glabrata, insignis, japonica, kagayamae, laevigata, latifolia, lhou, macroura, microphylla, miyabean, mizuho, mollis, mongolica, mosozygia, multicaulis, nigra, nigriformis, notabilis, pabularia, philippinensis, rotundifolia, rubra, serrata, sinensis, tiliaefolia and yoshimurai (Seth & Lal, 2002). Tasar silk is the product of the secretion from the silk glands of Antheraea proylei and A. mylitta, the temperate and tropical tasar silkworms, respectively. Although Antheraea species are polyphagous in nature, the food plants of first choice are known as primary and others, as secondary. The three main food plants of tropical tasar silkworms are: Terminalia alata, syn. T. tomentosa, vern. asan; Terminatia arjuna, vern. arjun; and Shorea robusta, vern. sal. In addition to the three main food plants, the tasar silkworm may feed on the following (Seth, 2000a): Anogeissus latifolia; axlewood, vern. dhawa, dhaura, dhaunta; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Bauhinia variegata; vern. kachnar; family Caesalpiniaceae, order Rosales Bombax ceiba, syn. Salmalia malabarica, Bombax malabaricum, Gossampinus malabarica; silk cotton tree, vern. semul, shembal, raket-senbal, kaanti sembal, pagun; family Bombacaceae, order Malvales Canthium dicoccum, syn. C. didymum, Plectronia didyma; vern. rangruri; family Rubiaceae, order Rubiales Capadessa fruiticosa: vern. nalbali; family Meliaceae, order Geraniales Careya arborea; kumbi, vern. kumbi; family Lecythidaceae, order Myrtales Carissa carundus; karunda, vern. karumcha, karaunda; family Apocynaceae, order Gentianales Celastrus paniculatus; vern. malkangni; family Celastraceae, order Celastrales Chloroxylon swietenia; East Indian satinwood, vern. bhirra, girya; family Rutaceae, order Geraniales Dodonaea viscosa; vern. aliar, sinatha; family Sapindaceae, order Sapindales Ficus benjamina; family Moraceae, order Unisexuales or Urticales Ficus religiosa; peepal, vern. pipal, pipli; family Moraceae, order Unisexuales or Urticales Ficus retusa; vern. kamrup, chilkan; family Moraceae, order Unisexuales or Urticales Ficus tsiela; vern. jari; family Moraceae, order Unisexuales or Urticales Ficus tsjakela; family Moraceae, order Unisexuales or Urticales Hardwickia binata; anjan, vern. anjan; family Caesalpiniaceae, order Rosales Lagerstroemia indica; common crape myrtle, vern. saoni; family Lythraceae, order Myrtales Lagerstroemia parviflora; landau, vern. Sida, dhaura, Bali, Sidi; family Lythraceae, order Myrtales Madhuca indica, syn. M. latifolia, Bassia latifolia; mahua, mowra, illipe, butter tree, vern. mahua, mohwa, mauwa; family Sapotaceae, order Sapindales
372
Melastoma malabathricum; vern. phutki; family Melastomataceae, order Myrtales Ricinus communis; castor, castor seed, vern. erandi, bharenda; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Shorea roxburghii, syn. S. talura; lac tree of South India; family Dipterocarpaceae, order Parietales Syzygium cuminii, syn. Eugenia jambolana, E. cuminii; jaman, jambolan, blackplum, java plum, vern. jamun, jam; family Myrtaceae, order Myrtales Tectona grandis; teak, vern. sagun, sagwan; family Verbenaceae, order Lamiales Terminalia bellerica; belleric myrobalan, bahera, vern. bahera; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Terminalia catappa; Indian almond tree, vern. deshibadam; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Terminalia chebula; chebulic myrobalan, vern. haritaki, harar; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Terminalia coriacea, syn. T. tomentosa var. coriacea; leathery murdah, vern. tani; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Terminalia crenulata, syn. T. tomentosa var. crenulata; vern. karu maruthu, tehmbava; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Terminalia paniculata; flowering murdah, kindal, vern. kinjal; family Combretaceae, order Myrtales Zizyphus jujuba, syn. Z. sativa, Z. vulgaris; vern. pitni ber, ban ber, beri; family Rhamnaceae, order Celastrales Zizyphus mauritiana, syn. Z. jujuba; Indian jujube, common jujube, vern. ber, hevi; family Rhamnaceae, order Celastrales Zizyphus rugosa, vern. bhand, churna; family Rhamnaceae, order Celastrales Zizyphus xylopyra, including Z. glaberrima santapau; katber, kathber, ghont; family Rhamnaceae, order Celastrales The introduction of two oak tasar silkworms, Antheraea proylei and A. pernyi, has enabled India to produce oak tasar silk. The main food plants of oak tasar silkworms belong to Quercus species, the oaks of the family Fagaceae, order Fagales. The other food plants of temperate tasar belong to genera like Castanopsis and Lithocarpus, of the family Fagaceae, order Fagales, and Salix, of the family Salicaceae, order Salicales. The different species of these food plants are (Seth, 2000b): Castanopsis hystrix, syn. C. rufescens; vern. katus, hingori Castanopsis indica; Indian chestnut, vern. bank katus, serang Lithocarpus dealbatus, syn. Quercus dealbata Quercus aegilops; valonia oak Quercus acutissima, syn. Q. serrata Quercus borealis; American red oak Quercus castaneaefolia; chestnut-leaved oak Quercus cerris; turkey oak Quercus coccinea; scarlet oak Quercus crispula Quercus dentata Quercus dilatata; green oak, moru oak, vern. moru, tilonj Quercus floribunda Quercus frainetto; Hungarian oak Quercus glauca; blue Japanese oak, vern. bran, siri, inai
373
Quercus griffithii; vern. dingim Quercus hispanica var. lucombeana; lucombe oak Quercus ilex; evergreen oak, holly or holm oak, vern. bechur, iri Quercus infectoria; gall oak, Dyers oak, vern. majuphal, mazu, muphal Quercus lamellosa; vern. buk, shalshi Quercus lanata, syn. Q. lanuginosa; woolly oak, vern. ranj, kiani Quercus lanceaefolia, syn. Castanopsis lanceaefolia; vern. siri, shingra Quercus leucotrichophora, syn. Q. incana; ban oak, gray oak, vern. ban, rin, vari, iri Quercus libani; Lebanon oak Quercus lineata; vern. phalut Quercus lusitanica; Lusitanian oak Quercus mongolica Quercus myrsinaefolia Quercus palustris; pin oak Quercus petraea; sessile oak Quercus prinus Quercus reticulatum; net leaf oak Quercus robur; English oak Quercus rubra Quercus semecarpifolia; brown oak of Himalaya, kharsu oak, vern. karshu, kharshu Quercus semiserrata; vern. schop Quercus suber; cork oak Quercus undulata Salix viminalis; English willow, osier, basket willow, vern. bibsu, kumanta Eri silk, also known as errandi or endi, is produced by the eri silkworm Samia ricini, syn. Philosamia ricini, Attacus ricini. It belongs to the family Saturniidae, order Lepidoptera. Being polyphagous, it may feed on the leaves of a large number of plants (Seth, 2000c): Ricinus communis; castor, castor seed, vern. erandi; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Ailanthus altissima, syn. A. glandulosa; ailanto, tree of Heaven, vern. barkessuru, barpat; family Simaroubaceae, order Geraniales Ailanthus excelsa; vern. maharuk, barkessuru; family Simaroubaceae, order Geraniales Ailanthus grandis; family Simaroubaceae, order Geraniales Ailanthus triphysa, syn. A. malabarica; vern. guggal dhup, family Simaroubaceae, order Geraniales Carica papaya; papaya, papaw tree, vern. papeeta; family Caricaceae, order Geraniales Cinnamomum cecidodaphne; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Coriaria nepalensis; vern. masuri, makola; family Coriariaceae, order Sapindales Evodia fraxinifolia; vern. payam; family Rutaceae, order Geraniales Gmelina arborea; gumhar, vern. gambhar, gumbhar, kambhari; family Verbenaceae, order Lamiales Heteropanax fragrans; vern. kesseru, tarla; family Araliaceae, order Umbellales Hodgsonia heteroclita; vern. thebow; family Cucurbitaceae, order Passiflorales Jatropha curcas; physic nut, purging nut, vern. botera, bagbherenda, jangliarandi, safedarand; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Jatropha multifida; coral plant, vern. bhotera; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Manihot esculenta, syn. M. utilissima, M. aipi, M. dulcis, M. palmata; cassava, manioc, tapioca, vern. simul-alu; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales
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Ricinus virdia; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Sapium eugeniifolium; vern. korha, family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Sapium sebiferum; Chinese tallow tree, vern. pippal-yang, vilayati-shisham, paharishisham; family Euphorbiaceae, order Euphorbiales Zanthoxylum armatum, syn. Z. alatum; vern. darmar, Nepali dhaniya, tejphal, tumru; family Rutaceae, order Geraniales Zanthoxylum limonella, syn. Z. budrunga, Z. rhetsa; vern. bazramani; family Rutaceae, order Geraniales Zizyphus mauritiana, syn. Z. jujuba; Indian jujube, common jujube, vern. baer, ber; family Rhamnaceae, order Rhamnales
Muga silk is produced by the muga silkworm Antheraea assama Westwood, syn. A. asamensis Helf., A. mejankari Moore. It belongs to the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, order Lepidoptera and family Saturniidae. The muga silkworm is polyphagous (Seth, 2000d). Its primary food plants are:
Machilus bombycina; vern. som; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Litsaea monopetala, syn. L. polyantha; vern. soalu, meda, ketmarra, patoia, kakuri; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Actinodaphne angustifolia, syn. A. hookeri; pisa, vern. petarichawa; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Cinnamomum glanduliferum; cinnamon, vern. dieng-puin-waith, dieng-sing, gonhorai, gonhorai-arong, gonsalu, gonsarai, malligiri, marisgiri; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Cinnamomum obtusifolium, syn. Actinodaphne obovata; vern. patichanda, patihanda; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Gmelina arboraea; gumhar, vern. bambari; family Verbenaceae, order Lamiales Litsaea cubeba, syn. L. citrata; vern. mezankari, sittimbar; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Litsaea nitida, vern. kothalua; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Litsaea salicifolia; vern. dighleti, digloti; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Magnolia pterocarpa, syn. M. sphenocarpa; vern. panchapa; family Magnoliaceae, order Magnoliales Michelia champaca; champak; family Magnoliaceae, order Magnoliales Michelia oblonga; family Magnoliaceae, order Magnoliales Machilus odoratissima; machilus, vern. kawala; family Lauraceae, order Laurales Symplocos grandiflora; family Symplocaceae, order Ebenales Symplocus paniculata, syn. S. crataegoides; sapphire berry, sweet leaf, vern. ludh; family Symplocaceae, order Ebenales Symplocos ramosissima; vern. lodh; family Symplocaceae, order Ebenales Zanthoxylum armatum, syn. Z. alatum and its var. planispinum, Z. planispinum; vern. darmar, Nepali dhaniya, tejphal, tumru; family Rutaceae, order Geraniales Zanthoxylum limonella, syn. Z. budrunga, Z. rhetsa; vern. bazramani; family Rutaceae, order Geraniales Zizyphus jujuba, syn. Z. sativa, Z. vulgaris; vern. ber, pitni ber; family Rhamnaceae, order Rhamnales Zizyphus mauritiana, syn. Z. jujuba; Indian jujube, common jujube, vern. bear, ber; family Rhamnaceae, order Rhamnales
Its secondary food plants are:
A large number of wild silkworms are known in nature. They, too, produce silk by feeding on the leaves of a number of plants. However, the silk they produce is not of good quality. The
375
food plants of these wild silkworms are: Acer campbellii, A. caudatum, Actinodaphne sikkimensis, Anacardium occidentale, Ardisia species, Artemisia vulgaris, Bischofia javanica, Careya arborea, Cedrella serrata, C. toona, Clerodendron infortunatum, Coriaria nepalensis, Cydonia oblonga syn. C. vulgaris, Dalbergia sissoo, Dillenia indica, D. pentagyna syn. D. pentagynia, Emblica officinalis syn. Phyllanthus emblica, Eugenia fruiticosa, Glochidion hohenackeri syn. G. lanceolarium, G. velutinum, Juglans rigia, Lagerstroemia speciosa syn. L. flos reginae, Lannea coromandelica syn. Odina wodier, Leucosceptrum canum, Litsaea glutinosa syn. L. sebifera, Lyonia ovalifolia syn. Pieris ovalifolia, Machilus odoratissima, Mangifera indica, Melastoma malabathricum, Meyna laxiflora syn. Vangueria spinosa, Microcos paniculata syn. Grewia microcos, Mimusops elengi, Mitragyna rotundifolia syn. Stephegyne diversifolia, Ocimum spp., Phyllanthus lanceolaria, Prunus cerasoides syn. P. puddum, Pterospermum semisagittatum, Pyrus communis, P. pashia, Salix babylonica, S. tetrasperma, Sapium insigne, Schleichera oleosa, syn. S. trijuga, Symplocos paniculata, syn. S. crataegoides, S. racemosa, Syzygium cuminii syn. Eugenia jambolana, Terminalia alata syn. T. tomentosa, Turpinia nepalensis, T. pomifera, Wendlandia thyrsoidea syn. W. notonia, Zanthoxylum acanthopodium and Z. armatum syn. Z. alatum (Seth, 2000e).
IV. Conclusions
As discussed above, trees are of great importance to people, not only economically and ecologically but also ornamentally and bioaesthetically. Because trees meet the needs of humans, the primary objective of any afforestation, biodiversity, ecodevelopment, bioaesthetic or landscape plan must be both to protect native treegrowing areas from further destruction and to plant trees in large areas. For any society, planting and care of trees serve as important endeavors and symbolize hope for the future. Multipurpose trees and shrubs have the capacity to provide for a variety of end uses while reversing the process of land degradation. Most of our environmental problems can be solved to a great extent if we grow more trees, especially in urbanized localities and cities. Because people in different parts of the world have become aware of the needs of trees and forests, many countries have started celebrating annual Forest Festivals or Tree Festivals or Greening Weeks or Arbor Days. In India, too, tree planting has been adopted as a national policy. The first successful tree-planting week was celebrated in Delhi in July 1947, with the participation of national leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and Abdul Kalam Azad, among many others (Randhawa, 1961, 1965 1983). In 1950 the celebration was renamed Vana Mahotsava (Grand Festival of Forests [or Trees]) (Seth et al., 1962).
V. Literature Cited
Anonymous. 19701972, 1983. Indian forest utilization. Comp. & ed. Forest Research Institute and Colleges, Dehra Dun. 2 vols. Manager of Publications, Delhi. . 1983. Forests of Himachal Pradesh. Department of Forests, Farming and Conservation, Himachal Pradesh, Kunihar, India. . 1986. The useful plants of India. CSIR, New Delhi. Bennet, S. S. R., P. C. Gupta & R. V. Rao. 1992. Venerated plants. Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, New Forest, Dehra Dun, India. Chakraverty, R. K. & S. K. Jain. 1984. Beautiful trees and shrubs of Calcutta. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, India. Cowen, D. V. 1950. Flowering trees and shrubs in India. Thacker & Co., Bombay. Dwivedi, B. 2000. Environmental vaastu. Diamond Pocket Books, New Delhi. Hawkins, R. 1986. Encyclopedia of Indian natural history: Centenary publication of the Bombay Natural History Society, 18831983. Oxford University Press, Delhi.
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Kohli, R. K. 1996. Needs and planning for avenue trees in cities: A Chandigarh experience. Pp. 3950 in P. K. Khosla, D. K. Uppal, R. K. Sharma, R. K. Kohli & Y. C. Jain (eds.), Ecofriendly trees for urban beautification. Indian Society of Tree Scientists, Solan and National Horticultural Board, Gurgaon, India. Lunardi, C. 1987. Simon & Schusters guide to shrubs and vines and other small ornamentals. Simon & Schuster, New York, London. Maithani, G. P., V. K. Bahuguna, J. D. S. Negi & S Nautiyal. 1991. Handbook of some important Himalayan shrubs. ICFRE1, FRI, Dehra Dun, India. Panshin, A. J. & C. de Zeeuw. 1980. Textbook of wood technology: Structure, identification, properties, and uses of the commercial woods of the United States and Canada. Ed. 4. McGraw-Hill, New York. Randhawa, M. S. 1961. Beautiful trees and gardens. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. . 19651983. Flowering trees. National Book Trust, New Delhi. Schubert, T. H. 1979. Trees for urban use in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, [New Orleans, LA]. Seth, M. K. 2000a. Food plants of tasar silkworms. Pp. 761777 in H. O. Agrawal & M. K. Seth (eds.), Sericulture in India, vol. 4. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. . 2000b. Food plants of oak tasar silkworms. Pp. 835842 in H. O. Agrawal & M. K. Seth (eds.), Sericulture in India, vol. 4. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. . 2000c. Primary and secondary food plants of eri silkworms. Pp. 879885 in H. O. Agrawal & M. K. Seth (eds.), Sericulture in India, vol. 4. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. . 2000d. Food plants of muga silkworms. Pp. 887893 in H. O. Agrawal & M. K. Seth (eds.), Sericulture in India, vol. 4. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. . 2000e. Food plants of wild silkworms. Pp. 913914 in H. O. Agrawal & M. K. Seth (eds.), Sericulture in India, vol. 4. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. . 2002. The logical meaning of shrubs and trees. The Botanica. Communicated. & C. Lal. 2000. Food plants of mulberry silkworms with particular reference to the morphology and wood anatomy of Morus serrata Roxb. Pp. 349371 in H. O. Agrawal & M. K. Seth (eds.), Sericulture in India, vol. 4. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India. , M. B. Raizada & M. A. Waheed Khan. 1962. Trees for Van Mahotsava. Forest Research Institute and Colleges, Dehra Dun, India. , S. Sharma & R. Thakur. 2002. Pictorial guide to some common shrubs of Himachal Pradesh, vol. 1. Communicated. Singh, R. V. 1982. Fodder trees of India. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. New Delhi. Singhal, R. M. & P. Khanna. 1991. Multipurpose trees and shrubs. ICFRE16, FRI, Dehra Dun, India. Trivedi, P. P. 1983, 1987, 1996. Home gardening. ICAR, New Delhi. . 1990. Beautiful shrubs. ICAR, New Delhi. Trotter, H. 1940. Manual of Indian forest utilization. Oxford University Press, London. . 1940, 1944 (reprinted 19581960). The common commercial timbers of India and their uses. Manager of Publications, Delhi. Venkatesh, C. S. 1976. Our tree neighbours. National Council of Educational Research and Training, New Delhi. Watt, G. 18891893. A dictionary of economic products of India, vols. 14. Cosmo Publications, Delhi.

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TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

The Botanical Review 69(4): 321376

Trees and Their Economic Importance

Issued 07 April 2004

II. Introduction and Classification of Trees

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

THE BOTANICAL REVIEW

III. The Economic Importance of Trees

1. Natural Purifiers of the Environment

3. The Physical Environment

THE BOTANICAL REVIEW

5. Urban and Rural Afforestation Programs

7. Protection of Road Surfaces

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

1. Shade and Shelter (or Avenue Trees)

THE BOTANICAL REVIEW

2. Ornamental Flowering Plants

3. Ornamental Foliage Plants

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

4. Ornamental Fragrance Plants

5. Ornamental Fruiting Plants

THE BOTANICAL REVIEW

7. Live Screens and Fences

8. Sculpture and Topiary

10. Landscaping and Bioaesthetic Planning

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

12. Art and Culture

THE BOTANICAL REVIEW

Table I Trees as a source of food

Genus and species

Tree legumes Algaroba

Prosopis chinensis, P. juliflora

Carob bean Honey locust Tamarind or imli

Ceratonia siliqua Gleditsia triacanthus Tamarindus indica

Rain tree or vilaiti sirris

Nittas Manila tamarind or jangal jalebi

Parkia biglobosam P. filicoidea, P. roxburghii Pithecellobium dulce

Bertholletia excelsa Anacardium occidentale

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Walnut European beech Jangli badam Queensland nut Macadamia nut

Prunus amygdalus Fagus grandifolia, F. sylvatica Pistacia vera

Seeds edible Seeds edible Seeds edible

Genus and species

THE BOTANICAL REVIEW

Citrus fruits Sweet orange, musambi

Sour orange, khatta

Mandarin orange, santara

Lemon, bara (pahari) nimbu Rutaceae Rutaceae

Citrus limon Rutaceae

Lime, nimbu or kaghzi nimbu

Pineapple, ananas Mulberry, tut, shahtoot

Zizyphus mauritiana Triphasia trifolia Annona cherimolia

Syzygium cumini Zizyphus nummularia Averrhoea carambola Aegle marmelos

TREES AND THEIR ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Custard apple, sweet sop, sharifa

Date, pind khajur Fig Guava, amrood

Phoenix dactylifera Ficus carica Psidium guajava

Jujube, ber Litchi Loquat

Zizyphus mauritiana Litchi chinensis Eriobotrya japonica