Adenanthera pavonina L., Sp. Pl. (1753)
Latin for 'peacock = pavo'.

Synonyms
Adenanthera gersenii Scheff., Adenanthera polita Miq., Corallaria parvifolia Rumph.

Description
Emergent tree up to 56 m tall and 117 cm dbh. Stipules ca. 0.5 mm long, dropped early. Leaves alternate, compound with leaflets alternating along rachis, leaflets penni-veined, glabrous, slightly whitish below. Flowers ca. 4 mm diameter, yellowish, placed in racemes. Fruits ca. 168 mm diameter, green, slightly to completely curled, dehiscent pods, inside of pod yellowish coloured, seeds uniformly brownish-red.

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp and keranga forests up to 500 m altitude. Often along or near rivers, but also common on hillsides. On sandy to clay soils. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Uses
Often planted as an ornamental tree. Wood locally used for indoor construction. A red dye can be extracted from the heartwood which is used (in India) for the forehead spot by Bhramins. Young leaves used as vegetables. Seeds used for necklaces and rosaries.

Distribution
Originally probably from eastern Malesia and west Pacific, but currently throughout tropical Asia, from Sri Lanka to New Guinea, Australia and west Pacific. In Borneo collected in Sarawak, Sabah and East-Kalimantan. Probably introduced into western Malesia and India for the seeds and red dye that can be extracted from the wood.

Local names in Borneo
Saga.