Baikiaea insignis Benth.

 
  • Family : FABACEAE
    (Pea Or Bean Family)
  • Family (Hindi name) : PALASH FAMILY (पलाश फैमिली)
  • Family (as per The APG System IV) : Fabaceae
  • Synonym(s) : Baikiaea eminii Taub.; Baikiaea fragrantissima Baker f.; Baikiaea insignis var. fragrantissima (Baker f.) J.Léonard; Baikiaea insignis subsp. minor (Oliv.) J.Léonard; Baikiaea minor Oliv.
  • Species Name (as per The IPNI) : Baikiaea insignis Benth.
  • Habit : Shrub or Tree
  • Key identification features : Trees, 5-34m high, buttresses absent or slightly developed, branchlets glabrous; Bark grey to grey-brown, smooth or slightly fissured; Leaves compound, glabrous, petiole with rachis up to 23–30 cm long, leaflets 3-8, coriaceous, ovate, elliptic, oblong-elliptic, or oblong-lanceolate, up to 40cm long, 17cm wide, apex subacuminate to obtusely pointed, petiolules 6-15mm long; Inflorescence racemes, 1.5-8.5cm long, bracts 3–4 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, bracteoles 3–4.5 × 2–2.5 mm; Sepals up to 11-15cm long; Petals very large, up to 21cm long, 11cm iwde, white or cream, standard petal pale yellow; Stamen filaments 6–16 cm long, glabrous or villous at the base, anthers 1.8-2cm long; Ovary 2.5-3.8cm long, style 5-9cm long; Fruit pod, 17-42cm long, 5-12cm wide, surface densely brown-velvety; Seeds ellipsoid, 3–4.5 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide, compressed, dark red, seed coat thin-shelled.
  • Flower, Fruit : April-August
  • Distribution :
    • Karnataka : Bengaluru Urban district, Bengaluru Rural district
  • Native : Angola, Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo, Gabon, Gulf of Guinea Is., Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
  • Exotic/Native : Exotic
  • World Distribution : SE. Nigeria to W. Tanzania and Angola
  • Literature :
    • K.Ravikumar, A.C.Tangavelou, & Navendu Page. (2021). Seed plants of Karnataka, India: A concise dictionary. FRLHT-TDU, National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Chennai.
  • Read more :
  • Permalink : https://indiatrees-ces.iisc.ac.in/plants.php?name=Baikiaea insignis
  • Citation : Sankara Rao, K., Deepak Kumar (2026). India Trees and Vegetation Types. Baikiaea insignis. Downloaded on 4 October 2026.

Distribution District wise

India Distribution

World Distribution

GBIF Distribution
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