Also called palash, tesu or the Flame of the Forest, this medium-sized tree is native to India. It grows up to 40 feet high and is easy to recognise by its grey bark, irregular branches and crooked trunk. Its pinnate leaves have three leaflets each — the origin of the Hindi saying "dhaak ke teen paat".
The tree does not flower until January, and drops its leaves before then. From January to March it is laden with orange-vermilion flowers, which is where the name Flame of the Forest comes from. The flowers have five petals with a beak-shaped keel, earning it another local name — the parrot tree. Birds are its main pollinators.
Palash Flower in Indian Culture
Tesu flowers (Butea monosperma) were the original source of natural colour for Holi, long before synthetic dyes existed. Soaked overnight, the flowers release a warm saffron-orange that was the colour of the festival.
In Manipur, when a member of the Meitei community dies and the body is untraceable, the family cremates the wood of this tree in its place. Palash flowers hold religious value and are used in havan and yagna ceremonies. It is the state flower of Jharkhand, and the Indian Postal Department has issued a stamp celebrating it. In some traditions palash is regarded as a form of Agni himself.
Every Part of the Tree Has a Use
What is remarkable about palash is that every part — flowers, leaves, bark, seed, stem and gum — has a traditional use. The tree appears across Unani, Homeopathy and Ayurvedic traditions.
Traditional Ayurvedic Uses of Palash
These are the classical, traditional uses recorded for the plant:
- Bark — traditionally applied externally to wounds and cuts.
- Seeds — contain a compound called palasonin; traditionally used for worm infestation, and described as laxative.
- Gum — traditionally used for dysentery and loose motions.
- Dried flowers — used as natural colour and in bathing water for summer skin comfort. The flowers are rich in sulphur. A paste of the flowers is traditionally applied for joint discomfort, swelling and sprains.
- Flower infusion — traditionally used for menstrual discomfort.
- Roots — traditionally used as an analgesic and for night blindness.
These are ethnobotanical and classical references, recorded here for interest and heritage. They are not medical recommendations, and none of them are a substitute for seeing a doctor.
Tesu Today – Natural Holi Colour
The best-loved modern use of tesu is still the one it started with: natural colour. Our Organic Tesu (Kesuda) Flower Powder gives that traditional saffron-orange without synthetic dye, and our full Organic Holi Colours range is built on the same principle.
Read also: Why Organic Holi Colors Are Safer for Your Family and Skin
This article is for general and cultural information. It is not medical advice and these traditional uses have not been evaluated by the FDA. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
