Chigare mara – Oil cake tree

Chigare mara (Albiziaamara (Roxb.) Boiv.) one of the native trees in Kodagu is a small sized tree which grows up to 13m tall. A deciduous tree with smooth,dark green scaly bark. The flowers are white, cream, or pinkish-white in colour, and fragrant.

Kodava

Chigare mara

English

Oil cake tree

Kannada

Chigaremara, Kadusige

Botanical Name

Albiziaamara (Roxb.) Boiv.

Family

MIMOSOIDEAE

Flowering starts

March

Fruiting ends

January

Uses

The leaves make excellent fodder. The branches can be used for both firewood and charcoal. The wood is dark in colour, fine grained and hard. Used for furniture making, agricultural implements and construction. The tree yields gum, used against ulcers; fruits are said to cure malaria and cough. It is reported that soap can be made from the roots and leaves can be used for washing hair.