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Indigenous trees of the Aravali

Dhak (Butea Monosperma), also called Sacred tree, Flame of the forest, Paalash, Bastard teak, Bengal kino, parrot tree (due to the shape of the flowers), is a native of tropical and sub-tropical parts of South Asia and South East Asia. It is a small-sized dry-season deciduous tree and has bright orange-red flowers resembling the curled beak of a parrot.  The tree blooms from February to April, although not necessarily every year. 
The tree yields timber, resin, fodder, medicine, and dye. The wood is durable underwater. Farmers are known to use it to reduce soil erosion. The leaves of the tree were used to make serving bowls. Paalash serbet is recommended in Ayurveda to help the body endure heat.  In India, the tree serves as a crucial host for the lac bug, which creates shelllac, producing the most lac sticks per hectare of any lac tree. The bark of the tree is a source of Butea gum, or Bengal kino, while the flowers are used to make traditional holi colour and the dye, Butein, yellow to deep orange-red in colour for fabric. 
Trivia: The Battle of Plassey was named after this tree, Paalash.

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