Rainbow wood, Sappanwood tree, Indian redwood
Biancaea sappan

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 6-10 m tall. The trunk is 14 cm across. It has ridges and prickles. Young plant parts are hairy. The leaves are 30-45 cm long. There are 7-13 pairs of pinnae that are 8-12 cm long and these have 10-17 pairs of leaflets. These are 1-2 cm long by 5-7 mm papery. The pods are reddish brown and 7 cm long by 4 cm wide. There are 3 or 4 seeds.

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in hill areas with clay soil and limestone rocks. It grows at low to medium altitude. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, North America, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The dye from the wood is used as a food colouring.

Edible parts

Stem - drink, wood - food dye

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Beys fathangu, Fang deng, Fang pa, Maikpan, Pohon secang, Pohon soga jawa, Sunthe, Teinnyet, Tomoc, Vang, Vang nhuom

Synonyms

Caesalpinia angustifolia Salisb. Caesalpinia sapang Noronha; Caesalpinia sappan L.;