It  is a species of fowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae , that is native to tropical Asia.It also produces a valuable reddish dye called brazilan, used for dyeing fabric as well as making red paints and inks.Slivers of heartwood are used for making herbal drinking water in various regions, such as Kerala , Karnataka and Central Java, where it is usually mixed with ginger, cinnamon and cloves. The heartwood also contains juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone), which has antimicrobial activity.

Malayalam-Chappannam

                  -sappannam

English-sappanwood 

             -Indian redwood

It has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties