Family : Leguminosae- Caesalpinioideae
Common Name : Gulmohar
Telugu Name : Erraturayi
Flowering : Bunches of scarlet red flowers appear in April to July when the tree becomes leafless.
Fruiting : August to October. Pods remain on the tree for 1 year.
Morphology of the Fruit/Seed : Pods large, flat, 40 to 70 cms by 2.5 to 4 cms in size, compressed, hard, brown or black when ripe. 20 to 30 seeds in distinct cavities, Greyish white, with a dark ridge, hard bony testa, oblong, 1.5 to 2 cms in length.
Seed Collection and Storage : Pods are collected in September to October, immersed in water for 10 to 15 days and then dried for 2 to 3 days in sun and beaten up to separate the seed. The viability is retained upto 2 years.
Pretreatment : Seeds placed in boiling water and allowed to soak for 5 days or soaking the seed in cold water for 10 days.
Nursery Technique : Pretreated seeds are sown in polybags in September, germination commences within 30 to 35 days. 6 to 9 month old seedlings are planted out.
Germination : 20%
Nos of Seeds per Kg : 2000
Suitable Season : Apr-May and Aug-Oct