Dalbergia Oojeinensis, Sandan - 0.5 kg Seeds

Sandan (Dalbergia oojeinensis, syn. Desmodium oojeinense) is a medium-sized deciduous tree with a spreading crown, compound leaves and clusters of small pinkish-white pea flowers followed by flat winged pods. It is a hardy, drought-resistant nitrogen-fixing legume of the dry deciduous forests.

Its strong, tough heartwood is used for agricultural implements, tool handles, cart parts and construction, while the foliage serves as fodder and the tree is valued in agroforestry and for fuelwood. In India it is found across the dry and moist deciduous forests of central India, the Deccan and the sub-Himalayan tract, often on poor and rocky soils.

• Family: Fabaceae
• Native region: Central and peninsular India
• Mature height: 10–20 m
• Growth rate: Moderate

The seeds have a hard coat, so soak them in water for 24 hours (or lightly scarify) before sowing. Sow about 1–2 cm deep in nursery beds or polybags of well-drained soil at the onset of the monsoon; germination generally takes 14–21 days. Grow the seedlings on under light shade and transplant once they are sturdy and the rains are established.