View source for Sal

:''For other meanings of '''Sal''' or '''SAL''' see [[SAL (disambiguation)]]''
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| image = Shorea robusta.jpg
| name = Sal
| status = LR/lc
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Dipterocarpaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Shorea]]''
| species = '''''S. robusta'''''
| binomial = ''Shorea robusta''
| binomial_authority = [[Albrecht Wilhelm Roth|Roth]]
}}

'''Sal''' ''(Shorea robusta)'' is a species of tree native to southern [[Asia]], ranging south of the [[Himalaya]], from [[Myanmar]] in the east to [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], and [[Nepal]]. In India it extends from [[Assam]], [[Bengal]] and [[Jharkhand]] west to the [[Shivalik Hills]] in [[Haryana]], east of the [[Yamuna]]. The range also extends through the [[Eastern Ghats]] and to the eastern [[Vindhya Range|Vindhya]] and [[Satpura Range|Satpura]] ranges of central India. It is often the dominant tree in the forests where it occurs.

Sal is moderate to slow growing, and can attain heights of 30 to 35 m and a trunk diameter of up to 2-2.5 m. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 10-25 cm long and 5-15 cm broad. In wetter areas, it is [[evergreen]]; in drier areas, it is dry-season [[deciduous]], shedding most of the leaves in between February to April, leafing out again in April and May.

===Uses===
Sal is one of the most important sources of [[hardwood]] timber in India, with hard, coarse-grained wood that is light in colour when freshly cut, and becoming dark brown with exposure. The wood is resinous and durable, and is sought after for construction, although not well suited to planing and polishing.

Sal resin is burned as [[incense]] in [[Hindu]] ceremonies, and sal seeds and fruit are a source of lamp oil and vegetable fat.



==Trivia==

Sal is said to be the species of tree under which [[Siddhartha Gautama]] the [[Buddha]] was born.

Sal fat is a key ingredient in the green tea variety of [[Pocky]]. 

==References==
* {{IUCN2006|assessors=Ashton|year=1998|id=32097|title=Shorea robusta|downloaded=12 May 2006}}

==External links==
*[http://www.haryana-online.com/Flora/sal.htm Haryana Online: Sal]

[[Category:Dipterocarpaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of India]]