MALEAL. Sigapu shandanum, TAM.
Raktchandan, MAR., SING. Ranjana, . . . TEL.
Sandal surkh, . . PERS. Ku-chandanam, . „ Buckum, . . . „ Rakta-gandham, . „ Colonel Beddome says this red sanders tree of commerce much resembles Pterocarpus mar supium in flower and fruit, but differs by always having 3 instead of 5 to 7 leaflets. It was thus described correctly by Dr. Roxburgh, but subse quent authorities have described it erroneously as having 5 to 7 leaflets. It is abundant on the low hills about the Cuddapah and North Arcot forests and the southern part of the Kurnool district, and Colonel Beddome has seen a few trees in the Godavery forests, but he never met with it else where in the Madras Presidency, and it is not, he believes, found anywhere else in India. The wood is of a fine grain and bright garnet colour, which deepens on exposure to the air. It is beautifully streaked, very hard and heavy, and takes a fine polish ; it is much used and highly prized by the natives for building purposes, and for turnery in Madras and the districts in which it grows ; it is also largely exported from Madras as a dye-wood, and used as ballast ; it is not often found over 3j or 4 feet in girth and about 20 to 28 feet in height ; the largest trees reach 44- feet in girth, but are then much heart-shaken or hollow. The logs are often notched at both ends, or cut with a hole as for a rope, and are much worn exter nally from being dragged along the ground ; other wood, as also indeed ivory tusks, are sometimes perforated for the like purpose. A bandy-load of selected logs will sell for as much as Rs. 200, i.e. twenty logs at 10 rupees each ; the roots and stumps are used for dyeing purposes, and sell at 6 to 9 rupees the 1000 lbs. The cattle during
the dry season are much fed upon the leaves of this tree, and young saplings are often bodily cut down by thousands by the cowherds. In the four years 1852-53 to 1855-56, there was exported from Madras 179,815 cwt., value Rs. 2,20,983, the destination chiefly being the United Kingdom, Indian French ports, Pegu, and Bengal. It is principally shipped to England from Calcutta in billets from 2 to 10 inches diameter, generally without sap, and sometimes iu roots and split pieces. This will explain much of the shipments from Madras to Calcutta. Its timber is chiefly used by dyers and colour manufacturers, also to colour medicine preparations. Its colouring matter is called santalin, and forms a beautiful colour, hut precipitates with many metallic solutions. It is employed to dye lasting reddish-brown colours on wool ; yields its colouring matter to ether and alcohol, but not to water. With different mordants it yields various shades of red, but these are said not to be permanent. Indian practitioners sometimes recommend it in powder in conjunction with certain herbs, and mixed with gingelly oil, as an external\application and purifier of the skin after bathiyig. Its red colouring matter also acts as a diaphoretic, like gentian. It is applied to the forehead in headache, and also as a cosmetic.—Ains. ; Eng. Cyc. ; Tredgold ; Mr. Rohde's MSS.; Colonel Beddome ; Drs. Wight, Cleghorn in M.E.T.R. of 1855, and Conservator's Report, pp. 37, 38; Mr. Simmonds; Balfour's Commercial Products of Madras Presidency ; Drury's Useful Plants ; Vmgt; Gen. Med. Top. ; Powell.