Butea is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the pea family, Fabaceae.

It includes five species native to the Indian Subcontinent, Indochina, Tibet, and southern China.

Butea[clarification needed] is also a host to the lac insect, which produces natural lacquer.

[4] Butea is named after John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute (1713-1792), member of parliament, prime minister for one year, and a patron of botany.

Butea monosperma, called kiṃśukha in Sanskrit, is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various symptoms.