Adenanthera pavonina – Red Bead Tree (seed)

Description

Adenanthera pavonina, the Red Sandalwood, Red Bead Tree or Coral Tree is cultivated for forage, as an ornamental garden plant or urban tree. It is a non-climbing species of leguminous tree useful for nitrogen fixation. It has many uses including food and drink, jewellery making, traditional medicine, timber, an ornamental garden plant/urban tree and as a shade tree. It has an attractive, spreading canopy. It flowers early spring to late summer fruiting in mid summer to autumn.

The plant is antibacterial and haemaglutinin (a glycoprotein which causes red blood cells to agglutinate or clump together). A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of rheumatism and gout. The bark is used to treat leprosy. A decoction of the bark and leaves is used to treat dysentery, diarrhoea and tonsillitis. The wood is used as a tonic. The pulverized wood, mixed with water, is taken orally for treating migraines and headaches. In vitro studies suggest Adenanthera pavonina leaf extract has antibacterial activity against the intestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Also, high doses of seed extract have an anti-inflammatory effect in studies in rats and mice (from PFAF).

Care and Cultivation of Adenanthera pavonina

Adenanthera pavonina seeds can be nicked slightly and soaked for several hours before sowing twice their depth in a suitable seed raising mix. Keep moist until germination 1-4 weeks at 24ºC.

Adenanthera pavonina likes a full sun position and well-drained soil. Will respond well to regular watering over the warmer months. Drought hardy. No need to fertilise as they produce their own through an association with rhizobia bacteria. 15-25m tall.

5 seeds per packet