Vern.: Sardol, Udal, Udar

A medium sized, monoecious tree. Leaves with 25-40cm long petiole; lalmina palmately 5-7-lobed, 20-40 cm long and broad, glabrescent above, tomentose below, cordate at the base, lobes somewhat oblong or obovate entire or 3-fid, acuminate-cuspidate. Panicles 15-30 cm long, rusty pubescent, pendulous. Flowers unisexual, pedicel4-8 mm long, bracteole filiform, caducous. Calyx campanulate, 5-partite, 6-10 mm long, 10-15 mm across, yellow with pinkish throat, lobes lanceolate, 4-6 mm long, patent, acute. Staminal column 4-5 mm long, recurved, glabrous, anthers 10. Carpels 5; ovary globose, strigose, 5-loculed, many-ovuled; gynophore 2-3 mm long; style recurved. Follicles 5, sessile, 4-6 cm long, coriaceous, rusty pubescent, many-seeded, red when ripe. Seeds oblong, smooth, black.

Fl.Per.: December-March

Type: Described from Bengal.

Distribution: India and Bangla Desh; cultivated elsewhere.

A coarse fibre obtained from the inner bark is used in making ropes, cordage and bags. Trunk yields a transparent gum and root is occasionally eaten.