Kusum Tree, Ceylon Oak - 0.5 kg Seeds
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The Kusum or Ceylon Oak (Schleichera oleosa) is a large, hardy deciduous tree with a dense, rounded crown and flushes of striking coppery-red young foliage. It is an important multipurpose forest tree of India, both for its products and as the principal host for the lac insect.
Its very hard, durable timber is used for ploughs, pestles and tool handles; the seeds yield kusum (macassar) oil used in cooking, soap, lamps and traditional hair and skin care; the acidic fruit pulp is eaten; and the bark and oil have medicinal uses. Above all, it is widely cultivated for lac production. It grows in dry and moist deciduous forests across India, notably Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and the sub-Himalayan tract.
- Family: Sapindaceae
- Native region: Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia
- Mature height: 20-30 m
- Growth rate: Slow to moderate
The seed loses viability quickly, so remove the pulp and sow fresh. Soak the cleaned seed in water for about 24 hours, sow roughly 2 cm deep in bags or a tray of well-drained mix, and keep moist and warm; germination takes around 21-30 days. Raise seedlings in deep containers as they form a long taproot, and transplant before it coils.
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