English: Siris Tree; Indian walnut; Koko.
Region: east Asia, India, southeastern Asia, northern Australia.
Habitat: tropical to subtropical sandy river beds and savannahs; semi-arid to sub-humid, marked dry and reliable wet seasons; elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres; well-drained, moisture-retentive soil; full sun; most soil types, including saline but excluding cracking clay; tolerant of degraded or nutritionally poor soils, very drought tolerant; sheltered from strong winds; intolerant of light fires.
Content: saponin.
Use: in agro-forestry; provide shade for coffee and cocoa plantations; valuable timber; wood for fuel; popular amenity treein dry tropics; wood dust is aromatic and peppery; fish poison; pods for cattle and sheep food.
BotanyVery fast-growing deciduous tree; open, large, spreading crown; 15 - 20 metres.
Stem: straight, cylindrical; 50 - 100 cm in diameter; high quality hardwood; wood dust is aromatic and peppery.
Roots: shallow, though wide-spreading.
Fruit: dried seedpods, rattle in the wind.