Adina cordifolia (Roxb.) Hook. f.

A deciduous, small to medium-sized, sometimes fairly large tree up to 30(-40) m tall; bole branchless for up to 20(-25) m, up to 110(-150) cm in diameter, with buttresses and often fluted; bark surface scaly, dippled, greyish-brown to reddish-brown, inner bark dark red to brown. Terminal vegetative bud flattened. Leaves opposite, simple, entire, broadly ovate, cordate at base; stipules appressed, markedly keeled. Flowers in an axillary, stalked, yellowish head, 5-merous, heads (2-4)-10 from an axil; interfloral bracteoles present; calyx with a short tube and oblong lobes; corolla hypocrateriform, with valvate lobes (but strongly imbricate at apex); stamens inserted in the upper part of the corolla tube; ovary inferior, 2-locular with many ovules, style exserted, stigma ovoid to subglobose. Fruit in a head-like infructescence, free, splitting into 4 parts, with persistent central axis and calyx. Seed ovoid, slightly bilaterally compressed, narrowly winged. Seedling with epigeal germination; cotyledons leafy. Haldina is related to Adina and a group of 4 small ""satellite"" genera (including Adinauclea, Metadina and Pertusadina) in the tribe Naucleeae. It can be recognized particularly by the flattened terminal vegetative bud, the lateral flower heads and the appressed, keeled stipules.

H. cordifolia occurs frequently but scattered in deciduous forest in the lowland and lower hills. In Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand it is often associated with teak (Tectona grandis L. f.).

Trial plantations have been established in Nigeria and South Africa, but results are not known.

Most information on propagation and planting of H. cordifolia originates from India and Burma (Myanmar). It can be raised from seed, but direct seeding failed as the seed is minute (about 11 million seeds/kg). Ripe fruit heads should be collected before seeds are shed, when the dry separation of seeds from the heads is easy. During the first year the germination capacity increases to 13% due to after-ripening. A pretreatment by soaking the seeds in water for 12 hours and then drying them slightly to facilitate sowing has been recorded. As with other very fine seeds, they should be sown in very fine sand, covered very lightly with fine soil or sand and watered by spraying frequently but lightly. They should be protected from direct sunlight and rain. Mulching the seedbeds proved better than using raised screens for this. When 2-3 months old, seedlings are pricked out into containers. As young plants are fragile, bare-rooted planting stock is not recommended.

Plantation: Stumps of two-year-old seedlings, however, are very successful as planting stock. One-year-old seedlings can be planted at 2 m x 2 m. Wildlings have also been used successfully. Husbandry: Although light-demanding, H. cordifolia needs light shade in the first few years. Good drainage and weeding after planting are essential for optimal development of the plants. In agroforestry trials its leaves and leaf extracts proved to have a serious allelopathic effect on associated crops. Protection from grazing and the occurrence of bare soil are essential for the establishment of natural regeneration. H. cordifolia coppices easily. Debarking immediately after felling is recommended to prevent fungal attack of the sapwood. In India girdling before harvest is practised to improve wood quality, as stems can slowly air dry before actually being harvested.

Diseases: Damping-off has been observed in the nursery.

There are about 11 million seeds/kg. Seeds can be stored for at least one year in an airtight receptacle.

Intercropping: In Burma (Myanmar) it is used as ground cover in teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) plantations.

Timber: The wood of H. cordifolia is used for house construction (doors, windows, stairs and flooring), boat building, and for furniture, implements and face veneer. It is also suitable for fine turnery work, rulers, pencil slats, bobbins, boxes and piano keys. The wood is reported as acid-resistant and could be suitable for laboratory bench tops and similar uses.