Palash / पळस / Flame of the Forest / Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

  • Local Name: Palash / पळस
  • Common Name: Flame of the Forest
  • Botanical Name: Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.

Status & Habitat

  • Status: Common

  • Habitat: Tree

  • Occurrence: Forests, Open areas, Roadside, Hilly areas

  • Season of Availability: February-March

  • Geography: Indian subcontinent

  • Method of Propagation: Seed and vegetative propagation

  • Part used for Propagation: Seeds and stump plantimg

Edible Parts

  • Edible Parts: Flowers & Bark

  • Can be Eaten Raw: No

Method of Consumption

  • Raw: N/A

  • Ripe: N/A

  • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A

  • Dangerous Form to Consume: N/A

  • As Food: Flowers are cooked into a vegetable curry

  • As Medicine: Extract of seeds, flowers and leaves works as a contraceptive. Seeds pounded with lemon juice can work to cure itch and pain caused by Herpes

  • Cooking Without Prior Boiling: N/A

  • Boiling Before Cooking: N/A

  • Pickling: N/A

  • Brining: N/A

  • Fermenting: N/A

  • Drying for later Consumption: Yes

  • Overall Method: Tea. Vegetable

Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

  • Nutritional Benefit: N/A

  • Medicinal Benefit: Astringent, treatment of piles, treatment of Herpes, Contraceptive

Tribal Wisdom

  • Tribal Wisdom: Consumed as vegetable and sharbat

Recipes / Usage

  • Tribal Recipe / Usage: Flowers are cooked into a vegetable curry