❖ Common name- Toon/red cedar

❖ Scientific name- Toona ciliata

❖ Classification-

Kingdom- Plantae

Family- Meliaceae

Order- Sapindales

❖ Mode of propagation-

Toona ciliata reproduces by seed. It is a prolific seed producer and establishes readily. Seeds should be fresh to maximize recruitment success. Scoring or removing some flesh from the seed can help germination, which may take up to 12 months. Cuttings can be taken and propagated. However, seed germinated trees tend to have a stronger root system.

❖ Uses-

The flowers are used to create a sulfur-yellow color along with safflower and turmeric. Bark has historically been used to make twines and string bags because it contains tannin. Toona ciliata is an important timber tree. It provides a valuable hardwood used for furniture, ornamental paneling, shipbuilding, and musical instruments like the sitar, Rudra veena, and drums. Traditionally, it is useful in chronic dysentery, leprosy, cures fever, headache, blood complaints, cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, and ulcer. Toona ciliata is traditionally used in menstrual disorders. The phytoconstituents present in the plants including triterpenoids, cedrelone, polyynes, limonoids, siderin, steroids etc.