| Biancaea sappan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaves and fruits | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Biancaea |
| Species: | B. sappan |
| Binomial name | |
| Biancaea sappan (L. 1753) Tod. 1875 | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Biancaea sappan is a species offloweringtree in thelegume family,Fabaceae, that is native to tropical Asia. Common names in English includesappanwood andIndian redwood.[2] It was previously ascribed to the genusCaesalpinia.[3] Sappanwood is related tobrazilwood (Paubrasilia echinata), and was itself calledbrasilwood in the Middle Ages.[4]
Biancaea sappan can be infected by twig dieback (Lasiodiplodia theobromae).[5]
This plant has many uses. It hasantibacterial andanticoagulant properties.[citation needed] It also produces a valuable reddishdye calledbrazilin, used for dyeing fabric as well as making red paints and inks.[a] Slivers of heartwood are used for making herbal drinking water in various regions, such asKerala,Karnataka and Central Java, where it is usually mixed withginger,cinnamon, andcloves. The heartwood also containsjuglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), which has antimicrobial activity.[7] Homoisoflavonoids (sappanol, episappanol, 3'-deoxysappanol, 3'-O-methylsappanol, 3'-O-methylepisappanol[8] andsappanone A[9]) can also be found inB. sappan.
The wood is somewhat lighter in color than brazilwood and other related trees. Sappanwood was a major trade good during the 17th century, when it was exported fromSoutheast Asian nations (especiallyThailand) aboardred seal ships toJapan.
.jpg)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sapan Wood".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Media related toBiancaea sappan at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toBiancaea sappan at Wikispecies | ThisCaesalpinioideae-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |
