Agrakh
Sakhua
Sal
Sakwa
Distribution and
Description:
The tree is
native to Indian sub continent ranging south of the Himalaya from Myanmar in east
to Nepal, India and Bangladesh. In Nepal it is mostly found in terai region
from east to west, especially in the Churia range. There are many protected
areas such as Chitwan national park, Bardia national park and Shukla phata
wildlife reserve where there are dense forests of huge Sal trees. It is also
found in the lower belt of the hilly region and inner terai.
S. Robusta is a large, deciduous tree up to
50m tall and with a DBH at 5m, these are exceptional sizes, and under normal
conditions, it attains a height of about 18-32 m and girths 1.5-2m.
The leaves
of shorea Robusta are simple, shiny, glabrous, about 10-25cm long and broadly
oval at the base, with apex tapering into a long point, new leaves reddish,
soon becoming delicate green, flowers yellowish-white, arranged in large
terminal or axillary racemose panicles.
Fruit at
full size is about 1.3-1.5cm long and 1cm in diameter it is surrounded by
segments of the calyx enlarged into 5 rather unequal wings.
Importance in Nepal:
The natural
s. Robusta forests in the terai are the country’s main source of building
timber, and in the valleys of the hill region are a valuable source of timber
fuel wood and fodder. The timber weighs between 800kg/m^3 and 960kg/m^3. It is
an excellent fuel wood, with an energy content at about 22,700 KJ/kg for the
heartwood and 21,300KJ/kg for the sapwood.
Sal oil or
butter is used for cooking locally and used for soap up to 30%. Refined,
modified fat is a substitute for cocoa butter and used in confectionery
industry. Sal butter is used in manufacturing of edible ghee, paints and
pigments, lubricants, auto oil, etc. Sal seed oil can be used economically for
production of bio diesel.
S. Robusta
leaves are widely used for making leaf plate and cups for both home use and
sale to sale plate factories.