Scientific Name : Saraca dives Pierre
Common Name : Asoka, Common Saraca
Chinese Name : 中國無憂花
Family : CAESALPINIACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origin | Native to some provinces of China, including south eastern Yunnan and southwestern, southern and south eastern Guangxi; also distributed in Southeast Asia countries including Vietnam and Laos. |
|---|---|
| Meanings of Name | The genus name Saraca is derived from aśoka (अशोक), meaning ‘sorrowless’ in Sanskrit. |
| Ecology | Common Saraca is generally grown in dense or sparse forests at altitudes of 200-1000 meters and is often found on both sides of rivers or valleys. |
| Vitality | Common Saraca prefers full sun environment and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. |
| Application | Bark of Common Saraca has medical properties and may help treat rheumatism and menorrhagia. |
| Saraca | Currently, twenty species belong to the genus Saraca worldwide. Size of both leaves and inflorescences varies greatly among each species. Even slight changes in environment can cause significant alternation in shape which confuses taxonomists and has led to numerous differing viewpoints within this genus. |
Hong Kong has introduced four Saraca species, including Saraca dives, Saraca thaipingensis, Saraca asoca and Saraca indica. Distinguishing them based on new leaves, bracts, stamens, pistils and inflorescences is advisable. Please refer to the table below for details.
| Species Characteristic | Saraca dives | Saraca thaipingensis | Saraca asoca | Saraca indica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young leaves | Young leaves pendulous, slightly purplish red | - | Young leaves pendulous, pale yellow to pale pink | Young leaves pendulous, flush white, pink or purple |
| Bract length | 1cm above | 1cm above | Less than 1cm | Less than 1cm |
| Stamen/ pistil | Stamen 8-10 | Stamen 4-7 | Stamen 6-8, tomentose | - |
| Inflorescent | Corymb-panicle axillary | Panicle, axillary or cauliflory | Panicle terminal or axillary | Panicle axillary |
| Growing Habit | Evergreen tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 20 m tall. |
| Stem | Bark grey-brown, with conspicuous lenticels and striate. |
| Leaves | Paripinnate compound leaf, alternate, 6-12 leaflets, young leaves pendulous, pale purple-pink. Leaflets elliptic or ovate-lanceolate in shape, cuneate at the base, acuminate or acute at the tip, leathery. |
| Flower | Dense corymb-panicle axillary. Flowers orange, base of calyx lobes, disk, stamens, and style becoming red. Rachis pubescent. Bract lanceolate, oblong or ovate, pubescent, caducous or late deciduous. Stamens 8-10. |
| Fruit | Legume brownish, compressed, oblong, valves dehiscent and twisted. |
| Seed | 5 to 9, unequal in shape, compressed, shallowly depressed sulcate at middle of both surfaces. |
| Flowering Period | April to May in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting Period | July to October in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=4547
Scientific names from other databases
― Plant of the World Online: Saraca dives Pierre
― GBIF: Saraca dives Pierre