Anogeissus latifolia

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Local names:
Bengali (chakwa), English (button tree,ghatti tree,axlewood), Gujarati (dhave,dhendo), Hindi (bakli,bejjalu,chal,dhau,vekkali,dhawa,dhawra,dhemodo,uella-nagu), Nepali (banghi,bajhi,daura), Tamil (vekaynage), Thai (takhian-nu), Trade name (button tree,axl

Anogeissus latifolia is a small to medium-sized tree up to 20(-36) m tall. Bole straight and cylindrical or sometimes more poorly shaped, branchless for 8(-10) m, up to 80(-100) cm in diameter, occasionally with small buttresses; bark surface smooth or with scales, pale to dark gray; branches drooping.

Leaves opposite or sub-opposite, variably distichous, simple, entire, exstipulate, with grayish-yellow or whitish hairs below.

Flowers sessile, in dense, globose heads on an axillary or terminal peduncle, 5-merous, small, sepals connate in a stalk-like tube, expanded at apex into a 5- lobed cup; petals absent; stamens 10, in 2 rows; disk intrastaminal, lobed; ovary inferior, 1-locular with 2 pendulous ovules, style simple.

Fruit a 2-winged pseudoachene, packed into a dense head, 1-seeded; calyx tube persistent and forming a beak.

The specific epithet latifolia is in reference to its wide leaves.

Ecology

Found in deciduous or semi-evergreen forest,  A. latifolia is a common element in teak forests but also occurs in the understorey of dipterocarp forest, in bamboo forest and even in vegetation under semi-arid conditions like savanna woodland and dry rocky hills. It is usually associated with Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia spp., Grewia tilaefolia, Albizia amara, Gyrocarpus jacquini and Mesua ferrea.

Native range
India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Tree management

The leaves of the seedlings are killed by severe frost. Young trees are very intolerant of weed competition but can stand light shade when young, however, adult trees are strong light demanders. The tree produces root suckers, coppices and pollards well, but these exhibit great seasonal variability. Coppicing and pollarding should not be done during the rainy season. Thinning of coppice is necesssary.  A. latifolia is not very frost tender. Planting is done in 30 cu cm pits, usually after the monsoon rains (July-August). Planting operations must be suspended if no rain is expected for a few days after planting. Plantation areas need protection from animals.

Fruits should be collected only when they are fully ripe as immature seeds fail to germinate. The ripe fruits are collected from the trees, dried in the sun and then stored. Generally seed viability is low but increases after very dry seasons. Seed germination is increased by a 3-min hot water seed treatment. Seed storage in metal tins or polythene containers is the best. There are 105 000-125 000 seeds /kg.

Found in deciduous or semi-evergreen forest,  A. latifolia is a common element in teak forests but also occurs in the understorey of dipterocarp forest, in bamboo forest and even in vegetation under semi-arid conditions like savanna woodland and dry rocky hills. It is usually associated with Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia spp., Grewia tilaefolia, Albizia amara, Gyrocarpus jacquini and Mesua ferrea.

Natural regeneration of A. latifolia is very good. It can be propagated by seed and tissue culture. One year old seedlings are the best planting stock in cases of propagation by stumps. The use of wildlings is another artificial regeneration option. Stumps, usually with 22 cm root and 5 cm shoot portion are prepared from 2 year old seedlings. After preparation these are wrapped in moist gunny cloth to prevent dessication. The stumps are freshened before planting to remove the dessicated tips of the shoot and the root. Coppicing is relied upon to regenerate natural stands, coppice shoots grow fairly fast. Shoot cuttings failed to root and calluse irrespective of IBA concentrations and method of application (Modgil et Nayithal 1998).

Erosion control:  The tree is a good survivor on eroded land. Used in river bank stabilization.

Tussar silkworms are fed on its foliage which is also used as fodder for cattle and buffaloes. A. latifolia leaves contain up to 45% digestible nutrients. The leaves contain 7.45-11.5% crude protein. The average digestibility coefficients of crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre, and N-free extract are 8, 53, 32 and 64 respectively. Total digestible nutrients per 100 kg of dry material work out to 48%. A seasonal variability in chemical composition of the leaves has been reported.

Apiculture: Its flowers are an important pollen source for bees.

A. latifolia yields good charcoal and firewood with an energy value of 17 600-20 500 kJ/kg.

Timber:  Produces a heavy hardwood with a density of 760-940 kg/cu m. Heartwood absent or small; texture fine to medium and even. Shrinkage upon seasoning is moderate to high, and the wood is difficult to season as it is liable to warping, splitting and surface checking. It is possible to modify surface checking completely by soaking in solutions of 50% polyethylene glycol-600 for 1 day. The wood is hard, strong, and can be difficult to saw. When mixed with other woods can make good packing and writing paper.

Tannin or dyestuff:  The leaves and bark are used for tanning, the leaves yield a black dye that is used commercially in India.

Medicine:  Used in treating snake bites and scorpion stings in India.

Gum or resin:  Ghatty gum tapped from A. latifolia is a good substitute for gum arabic and is used in calico printing, for sweetmeats, in dye processes, and as a binding agent in pharmaceuticals. 

Wood used for erecting fences on field bunds.

Soil improver: Contributes to soil nutrient cycling, exhibiting high leaf-litter decomposition rates.