The Sal Tree (Shorea Robusta)

Hindi Name – Sal

Sanskrit Name –  Shala 

Botanical Name – Shorea Robusta

Sal is a tall & deciduous tree, its bark is dark brown in color. Sal tree stem is straight & bulky. Sal Tree has commercial value. Sal tree is the native of Indian subcontinent & belongs to Dipterocarpaceae family.

Sal tree may height up to a hundred meters, & diameter four to six feet. Sal is a slow-growing tree. Sal is used for timber purposes in India. 

Sal tree wood is utilized for construction purposes in hilly areas. Its cultivation is found in the foothills of the Himalayas. Sal tree cultivation is done in Chhayisgarh, Haryana & the North-Eastern states of India.   

Sal tree can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, & it grows well, in most drained fertile soils. Sal is planted by seed & it grows fast up to the height of five feet.

Sal tree leaves are eight to ten inches long, & six to eight inches wide. Leaves drop in Feb month, & leafing starts sprouting in Apr-May months.  

Sal Tree dry leaves are the source of the making leaf plates, &  leaf bowls in the villages of India. Once these plates & bowls used for eating food then they can be utilised to feed domestic animals as fodder. 

That way we can take a step towards protecting the Northern Indian hilly regions from the flood of one-time-use plastics that may cause pollution.Sal tree leaf juice is good in the treatment of dysentery, warmed leaves are used as a bandage on swollen parts of the body.

Sal tree starts flowering buds in fifteen years. The flower color is pinkish yellow.

Sal tree is an important source of hardwood in India. When its wood is cut it is in a light colour, & wood becomes darker brown with time.  Sal tree wood is durable, & is sought for construction.

Sal tree wood is appropriate for fabricating frames for windows, & doors.

Sal tree seeds are a source of vegetable fat. Sal Tree seed oil is utilised in the kitchen preparations. Sal tree seed oil is used to treat skin diseases too. 

Astringent made from Sal tree resin {Indian dammar} is used in Ayurvedic medicine, & it is utilised as incense in Hindu ceremonies too.

Sal tree resin is used in the treatment of dysentery, boils & toothaches.

We all shall plant more trees to save the environment around us so as we could make our tomorrow better.