RAIN TREE (Samanea saman Merr.)

One of my colleagues told me that the fruit of the rain tree had a very "interesting" name in the Malay language. At first I had thought it was the Golden Shower tree which I did a post on previously. However, when I showed him the fruit from the Golden Shower tree, he told me that it wasn't the one. He said the flowers were pink and continued to give me a description of the plant. I also used the name that he provided me with to find the botanic name for this particular tree. For those who wish to know, the name of the fruit is in the last picture.

Plant information:

Common names: Acacia, Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Saman. 5 0'clock Tree, Ki Hujan

Botanic name: Samanea saman Merr.

Traditional Uses

In the Phillipines

· Acute bacillary dysentery, enteritis, diarrhea: use 15 to 30 gms dried material in decoction.
· Also for colds, sore throat, headache.
· A decoction of the inner bark or fresh cambium and leaves is used to treat diarrhea.
· Anaphylactic dermatitis, eczema, skin pruritus: use decoction of fresh material and apply as external wash.
· Latex used as gum arabic for gluing

In Venezuala,

. The rain tree is a traditional remedy for colds, diarrhea, headache, intestinal ailments and stomach ache.
· Root decoction used in hot baths for stomach cancer.

In the West Indies,
· The leaf infusion is used as a laxative and seeds chewed for sore throat.
· The alcoholic extract of leaves used for tuberculosis.

References:

http://www.stuartxchange.com/Acacia.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flower_%26_flower_buds-_Samanea_saman_I_IMG_3407.jpg
http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/data/pf000168.htm
http://kuina.kujie2.com/galak-tua/gongkar/khazanah-rimba-2.html