Schleichera oleosa, kusum, is a dry-forest tree of India and Southeast Asia that is the best host for the lac insect. Lac reared on kusum, called kusumi lac, is the highest-quality lac for shellac, varnish and bangles. Its seeds yield an oil once sold as Macassar oil for hair, and its spring leaves flush brilliant red.
- Botanical name
- Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Merr.
- Family
- Sapindaceae
- Tamil
- Puvan
- Hindi
- Kusum
- Parts used
- Seed oil, Lac host
- Habit
- Lac tree of dry deciduous forest
- Last updated
- 2026-10-26
How to recognise Kusum
It is a medium to large deciduous tree with a dense, rounded crown and grey bark.
The leaves are pinnate, with two to four pairs of oblong leaflets. The new leaves in spring are bright crimson, making the trees stand out across the forest.
Small yellowish-green flowers grow in slender spikes.
The fruit is small, round to egg-shaped and hard-shelled, with one or two seeds surrounded by a sour, juicy aril.
Traditional use of Kusum
Lac farming
Farmers in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha inoculate kusum branches with lac insects, whose resinous secretion is harvested as sticklac.
Central Indian lac farming
Oil and food
The seed oil was used for lamps, cooking after processing, hair oil and soap, and the sour fruit pulp is eaten.
Indian village practice
Modern notes on Kusum
Lac from kusum yields shellac with superior colour and quality. India is the world’s leading lac producer.
The raw seeds and oil contain cyanogenic compounds, so traditional processing matters before the oil is used in food.
Kusum safety
Do not eat raw seeds or use unprocessed oil for cooking. The sour fruit pulp is a local food.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in dry deciduous forests of central and eastern India and Southeast Asia.
Kusum, along with palas and ber, is one of the main lac hosts, so its conservation supports forest livelihoods.
Birds and primates eat the fruit.
Related plants
Also in Sapindaceae
Questions about Kusum
What is kusumi lac?
Lac grown on kusum trees, the best-quality lac.
What older names does Schleichera oleosa go by?
Schleichera trijuga.
Can you eat the fruit of Kusum?
The sour pulp is eaten locally; the seeds are not.
Sources
- Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Merr. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q13094301 (Schleichera oleosa)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.