Sonajhuri Tree

Description

Sonajhuri Tree is an evergreen tree that grows between to 15 – 30 metres tall, with a trunk up to 12 metres long and 50 centimetres in diameter. It has dense foliage with an open, spreading crown. The tree was given the name ‘Sonajhuri’ by the famous Bengali Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. He evidently was impressed by the beauty of the profuse blooms of the golden yellow flowers on the trees and by the fallen ones on the grounds under the trees. And, he called them "Sonajhuri'.

This plant is raised as an ornamental plant, as a shade tree and it is also raised on plantations for fuel wood throughout south-east Asia, Oceania and in Sudan. Its wood is good for making paper, furniture and tools. It contains tannin useful in animal hide tanning. In India, its wood and charcoal are widely used for fuel. Gum from the tree is sold commercially, but it is said not to be as useful as gum arabic.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Fabales
• Family: Fabaceae
• Genus: Acacia
• Species: A. Auriculiformis
• Scientific Name: Acacia Auriculiformis