This large, noble tree can grow up to 65 feet tall and can be seen from anywhere on campus. Its evergreen leaves are round, ending with a point, and its pink flowers grow in clusters. Commonly known as the Indian rosewood or sissoo tree, it is most highly prized for its wood; dark, durable, and perfect for woodworking. Originating in India, it was often grown in tea plantations for the shade and nitrogen rich fodder it produced. The sissoo tree is part of the nitrogen fixing Fabaceae family, known for producing flat seed pods. It is a very hearty tree able to tolerate a variety of conditions, from intense heat to below freezing weather, and rainfall ranging from heavy storms to long droughts. The University of Arizona is home to 62 of these trees.
