Agati

(Hummingbird Tree, Sesban, Scarlet Wisteria Tree, Corkwood tree)

Family: Fabaceae
Fast-growing tropical tree. Native to India, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.  Ornamental shade, reforestation and medicinal tree, nurse crop and companion plant. Naturalizes easily and will challenge other vegetation.  Often grown in association with Pippali (Piper nigrum), which see. The leaves, green fruit and the flowers are edible to both humans and domestic stock.  A red, astringent gum will exude from wounds in the bark. Medicinal attributes are legion, from headache and stuffy nose to nyctalopia (night-blindness). Cultivation: Easy.  Scarify seed by dropping in just-boiled water and letting sit overnight, or nick seed and soak overnight before planting.  Tolerates drought, heavy soils, poor soils and waterlogged soils but not frost.  Trees may be grown closely together to form a shade-producing shelterbelt, or may be planted at fifteen foot distance to fully develop the woody portions.  Flowers large, pendulous, pink or white in color.