Ceylon Oak (Kusum)

The kusum tree is a large deciduous tree of the soapberry family with bright red new leaves in spring and small oily seeds. It grows across India, including the Western Ghats, and Southeast Asia, and is a host tree for the lac insect.

In Ayurveda it is known as Kosamra. The seed oil, called kusum oil, has traditionally been used for skin and hair care, while the bark is used in astringent preparations for the skin.