Khair (Acacia catechu) is a moderate size deciduous tree with rough dark gray brown bark. It belongs to family Leguminoseae-mimoseae. It is said that the name ‘catechu' was given to it because its bristles resemble the claws of animals of the cat family or maybe because its heart wood contains cutch. It is also called khoira, koir, kheriya baval, kher babul, kagli, cachu, kugli, kaderi and sandra in local Indian languages