Dalbergia sissoo

An erect deciduous tree to 20 m high with a 2 to 3 m girth, trunk often not straight or regularly branched; reproducing by seed and suckers. Stems: Young shoots downy, drooping; established stems with light brown to dark gray bark to 2.5 cm thick, shed in narrow strips; large upper branches support a spreading crown. Leaves leathery, pubescent when young, glabrous later; alternate, to 8 cm long, comprising 3 to 7 leaflets, broadly elliptical to obovate. Flowers white to yellowish white, pea-like, to 2 cm long, fragrant, nearly sessile; formed in axillary clusters. Fruit an oblong pale brown pod to 10 cm long, 1 cm wide, thin and strap-like, end rounded with a minute point, glabrous, contains 1 to 4, usually 2 or 3 seeds. Seed: Brown, flat, almost oblong,1 cm long and 4 mm wide. Root: A long taproot and numerous surface roots which produce suckers.