Sheesham plants:-
| Species | : | Shhesham |
| Other Names | : | Shisham, Bombay Blackwood, Indian Rosewood |
| Hindi Names | : | Shisham, Sisu, Sheesham |
Shisham is a medium to large deciduous tree, native to India, with a light crown which reproduces by seeds and suckers. It can grow up to a maximum of 25 m in height and 2m to 3m in diameter, but is usually smaller. It has been established in irrigated plantations, along roadsides and canals, and around farms and orchards as windbreaks. Sheesham is best known internationally as a premier timber species of the rosewood genus. However, sheesham is also an important fuelwood, shade, shelter and fodder tree. With its multiple products, tolerance of light frosts and long dry seasons, this species deserves greater consideration for agroforestry applications.
Sissoo is among the finest cabinet, furniture and veneer timbers. The heartwood is golden to dark brown, and sapwood white to pale brownish white. The heartwood is extremely durable and is resistant to dry-wood termites. Young branches and foliage form an excellent fodder with a dry-matter content. It is used for high-quality furniture, cabinets, decorative veneer, marine and aircraft grade plywood, ornamental turnery, carving, engraving, tool handles and sporting goods. Its root wood is used for tobacco pipes.
Oil obtained from the seeds is used to cure skin diseases. The powdered wood, applied externally as a paste, is reportedly used to treat leprosy and skin diseases. The roots contain tectoridin, which is used medicinally.
Sissoo tree is known by many names such as Sisu, Sheesham, Agaru, Tali etc. It is native to Himalayan foothills in Northern India and is distributed in many countries viz. India, Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka and Mauritius. It is introduced in many other countries of tropics and subtropics and now naturalise in Africa and America. Sissoo is an important timber tree of India. It has nut-brown heartwood which is very hard, heavy, strong and elastic. The wood is used for making doors, window frames, flooring, furniture, boats, cabinets etc. The pulp of wood is also used for making papers.
Sissoo tree is grown as shade tree along the roads. It enriches soil due to presence of nitrogen fixing bacteria in roots. The leaves falling from the tree further improves soil quality. Sissoo is also a medicinal tree. In Ayurveda, it is used for treatment of variety of diseases. The wood and bark of Sissoo have abortifacient, anthelmintic, antipyretic, aphrodisiac, expectorant and refrigerant properties. Even in Africa, this tree is used for treatment of wounds and gonorrhoea.
Medicinal uses of sheesham:-
In Ayurveda, various parts of Shisam tree are used for treating variety of diseases. The leaves are used for eye pain, swelling, painful urination, gynaecological disorders etc. Leaves and bark are used as astringent in bleeding disorders. The paste of leaves mixed with sweet oil is used topically in skin excoriation (scrapping, abrading of skin).Many scientific studies done of various parts of Sissoo tree supported the traditional therapeutic uses. Such studies confirmed the tree is anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive/ reducing sensitivity to painful stimuli property, anti-diabetic, analgesic and antioxidant.
INTRODUCTION
Dalbergia sissoo is known as shisham or tally in Pakistan. The species is found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is found under cultivation in tropical to subtropical Africa and Asia, viz. Java, Nigeria, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Northern Zimbabwe, Palestine and South Africa (Tewari 1994).
According to Troup (1921), it is very likely that sissoo is indigenous only to the sub- Himalayan tract and has been introduced by man elsewhere. D. Sissoo is considered to be native to TARAT situated in the subtropical and dry temperate foothills in Nepal growing at an altitude of 900 to 1500 m with an annual rainfall range of 900 to 1500 mm. In Pakistan, it is found along the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains. As a species, it extends up the Indus valley to Attock, but does not dominate over any appreciable area (Champion et al. 1965). The species was introduced into Punjab (Changa Manga plantations in 1866) to produce coal for steam engines. The species is planted on private lands and also in the public plantations following demand for the tree for fuelwood and production of furniture. Community forests have been planted in Khanewal on quite a large area, and similar plantations exist in Bhagat, Bhakkar and Mianwali.
Private plantations along agriculture field banks have been set up by farmers in the districts of D.G. Khan, Faisalabad, Rahimyar Khan, Bhawalpur and Bahawal Nagar. Some other plantations include near the road sides and all along the canals, and water courses in Mardan, Bannu and Sawabi areas of NWFP.
Soil for plantation-
Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), is an erect deciduous tree, native to India, Pakistan and Nepal. It is also called Sissoo, Sisu and Indian Rosewood. It is primarily found growing along river banks below 900m elevation, but can range naturally up to 1,300m. The temperature in its native range averages 10 – 40°C, but varies from just below freezing to nearly 50°C. It can withstand average annual rainfall up to 2,000mm and droughts of 3 – 4 months. Soils range from pure sand and gravel to rich of river banks; Sheesham can grow in slightly saline soils. Seedlings are intolerant of shade.
Sheesham is best known internationally as a premier timber species of the rosewood genus, but is also utilized as an important fuel wood and for shade and shelter. With its multiple products, tolerance of light frosts and long dry seasons, this species deserves greater consideration for tree farming, reforestation and agro forestry applications. After Teak it is the most important cultivated timber tree in Haryana and the rest of India, planted on roadsides and as a shade tree for tea plantations.
Best month Plantation-
Dalbergia sissoo, known commonly as North Indian Rosewood, is an evergreen rosewood tree, also known as sheesham, sisu, tahli, Tali and also Irugudujava. It is native to the Indian Subcontinent and Southern Iran. In Persian, it is called Jag. It is the state tree of Punjab state (India) and the provincial tree of Punjab province (Pakistan). Its Afghanistan name is shewa. Indian common names are biradi, and sisau. It is primarily found growing along river banks below 900 meters (3,000 ft) elevation, but can range naturally up to 1,300 m (4,300 ft). The temperature in its native range averages 10–40 °C (50–104 °F), but varies from just below freezing to nearly 50 °C (122 °F). It can withstand average annual rainfall up to 2,000 millimeters (79 in) and droughts of 3–4 months. Soils range from pure sand and gravel to rich alluvium of river banks; shisham can grow in slightly saline soils. Seedlings are intolerant of shade.
Height of Plant
The calorific value of both the sapwood and heartwood is ‘excellent’, being reported to be 4,908 kcal/kg and 5,181 kcal/kg respectively. As a fuel wood it is grown on a 10 to 15-year rotation. The tree has excellent coppicing ability, although a loss of vigor after two or three rotations has been reported. Shisham wood makes excellent charcoal for heating and cooking.
Area of plantation
sissoo is a medium to large deciduous tree with a light crown which reproduces by seeds and suckers. It can grow up to a maximum of 25 m (82 ft) in height and 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) in diameter, but is usually smaller. Trunks are often crooked when grown in the open. Leaves are leathery, alternate, pinnately compound and about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Flowers are whitish to pink, fragrant, nearly sessile, up to 1.5 cm (0.59 in) long and in dense clusters 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) in length. Pods are oblong, flat, thin, strap-like 4–8 cm (1.6–3.1 in) long, 1 cm (0.39 in) wide and light brown. They contain 1–5 flat bean-shaped seeds 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. They have a long taproot and numerous surface roots which produce suckers. Young shoots are downy and drooping; established stems with light brown to dark gray bark to 2.5 cm (0.98 in) thick, shed in narrow strips; large upper branches support a spreading crown.
Use of plant:-
BOTANIC DESCRIPTION
Medium to large-sized deciduous tree, reaches height up to 30 m;Crown wide spreading and thin;Bark thin, grey, longitudinally furrowed, exfoliating in narrow strips;leaves imparipinate, leaflets 3-5, alternate, 2.5-3.6 cm in diameter, broad ovate, acuminate, glabrescent, petiolules 3-5 mm long;Flowers 5-8 mm long, pale white to dull yellow, racemes 2.5-3.7 cm long in short axillary panicles;Pods 5-7.5 cm x 8-13 mm, narrowed at the base, indehiscent, glabrous, with 1-4 seeds;Seeds 6-8 x 4-5 mm, kidney shaped, thin and flat, light brown;
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Tropical to subtropical climates in natural and planted forests; very widely distributed in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Persia, Iraq, Kenya and Tanzania
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
Following chemicals are isolated from various tree parts. LEAVES: Isoflavone-O-glycoside FLOWERS: Biochenin A, tectorigenin, 7, 4 dimethyle tectorigenin and 7-O- methyle tectorigenin GREEN PODS:Mesoinisitol, 7-O- methyle tectorigenin and 4’-rhamnoglucoside MATURE PODS:Isocaviumin, tectorigenin, dalbergin, caviunin and tannins STEM BARK:Dalberginone, dalbergin, methyl dalbergin and dalbergichromene HEARTWOOD:Dalbergin, nordalberginones, dalbergichromene, fixid oil and essential oils.
MEDICINAL USES OF SHISHAM/SISSOO
In Ayurveda, various parts of Sheesam tree are used for treating variety of diseases. The leaves are used for eye pain, swelling, painful urination, gynecological disorders etc. Leaves and bark are used as astringent in bleeding disorders. The paste of leaves mixed with sweet oil is used topically in skin excoriation (scrapping, abrading of skin).
Many scientific studies done of various parts of Sissoo tree supported the traditional therapeutic uses. Such studies confirmed the tree is anti-inflammatory, ant nociceptive/ reducing sensitivity to painful stimuli property, anti-diabetic, analgesic and antioxidant.