Botanical Information: DALBERGIA SISSOO
Common Name: Shisham / Sheesham
Scientific Name: Dalbergia sissoo
Family: Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Origin: Indian Subcontinent (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran)
Type: Deciduous, fast-growing tree
Height: Up to 25–30 meters
Leaves: Compound, pinnate with 3–5 leaflets
Flowers: Small, white to pink, fragrant
Fruits: Flat, thin pods containing 1–5 seeds
Bark: Brown to grey, with vertical cracks
1. Timber Uses:
Wood is strong, durable, and termite-resistant.
Used for furniture, doors, window frames, and musical instruments.
Known as Indian Rosewood in the timber industry.
2. Fuelwood:
High calorific value makes it ideal for firewood and charcoal.
3. Medicinal Uses:
Leaves: Used to treat skin diseases, wounds, and boils.
Bark: Astringent; used in treating diarrhea, dysentery, and ulcers.
Wood Oil: Sometimes used in traditional remedies for skin ailments.
Root & Leaf Paste: Used externally to relieve pain and swelling.
Decoction of bark: Used as a mouthwash for oral hygiene.
4. Traditional Oral Hygiene:
Twigs are used as natural toothbrushes (datun) for cleaning teeth and gums.
5. Environmental Uses:
Helps in soil improvement due to nitrogen-fixing roots.
Prevents soil erosion through its extensive root system.