Page 50 - Major Gum Resin-E-Book

Exudate Gums

Habitat and distribution
It is mostly suitable for Moist and dry deciduous forests mostly found in association with sal
forests. The tree is widely distributed in India and Burma.
Description
Asan is a deciduous tree with grey-black, very rough, deeply vertically fissured, horizontally
cracked trunk giving appearance like crocodile bark. Blaze is red. Leaves are simple, opposite
to subopposite, exstipulate, glabrous, coriaceous with entire or crenulate margin. The
characteristic feature of this tree is leaf midrib with 2 stalked glands near the base beneath.
Flowers are bisexual and dull yellow in colour, come in terminal and axillary paniculate
spikes. The fruit is ovoid, 3 cm long, with five wings not extending beyond the fruit apex.
The bark is fire-resistant. Flowering and fruiting period is from April-May. As the tree stands
bare during winter, it can only be identified by its scissored and cracked bark.
Flowering: April - May

Fruiting: May - June
Uses of Gums
The gum exuding in large globular tears from the branches, especially young branches is
edible, copious transparent. It looks similar to dhawra gum and often sold in the name of
dhawra or mixed with dhawra gum for trade. A paste of the gum is applied externally to
burns and is also used to treat swellings caused by inflammation.

Major gum and resin plants of India 41