Dalbergia latifolia

Botanical Name –  Dalbergia latifolia

Common Name – Shinshapa (Sanskrit), Kala Shisham, Beete, Satisal,                                     Sitsal (Hindi), Kalarukh (Marathi), Beete (Kannada)

Habit

• A medium to large sized deciduous or evergreen tree
• Slow growing
  
  

Habitat

• Moist forests and dry deciduous forests
• Prefers hilly terrain

Distribution in India 

• Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil-Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa
  
  

Specific properties

• A Nitrogen fixing tree
• IUCN Status is vulnerable (Vu)
• It is used as a shade tree in agroforestry
• Suitable species for soil restoration
• Used to make temples
  
  

Ecology 

• Flowers attracts lots of insects
• Dalbergia latifolia is an important source of nectar and pollen for honeybees
  
  
• Larval Host Plant for
  • Coladenia indrani – Tricolour Pied Flat
  • Tapena thwaitesi – Black Angle
  • Anthene emolus – Common Ciliate Blue
  • Anthene lycaenina – Pointed Ciliate Blue
  • Charaxes psaphon – Plain Tawny Rajah
  • Lasippa viraja – Yellowjack Sailer
  • Neptis jumbah – Chestnut-streaked Sailer
  • Catopsilia pomona – Lemon Emigrant