PONGAM TREE
Family – Leguminosae
Scientific name – Pongamia glabra
Common names –
1) Indian beech in English.
2) Karanj or Karanja in Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and
Gujarati.
3) Pongam in Tamil.
4) Pungu in Telgu.
Growing areas –
1) This tree is found in Seychelles to India, the Pacific
islands and Australia.
2) It grows in all over India and it is planted for it’s
beauty by the sides of roads and in the gardens.
3) This tree is very hardy and can thrive in the cold as
well as heat.
4) It is especially grows on coasts and near streams and
rivers.
General information –
1) This tree is fast growing, medium sized and nearly
evergreen.
2) This tree has a short trunk and spreading crown of
branches.
3) It has smooth and grey-brown bark.
4) In good conditions they can grow very tall.
Leaves, flowers, fruits and uses of the Pongam Tree.
Leaves of the Pongam Tree –
1) The leaves of this tree shed at irregular intervals in
winter and spring.
2) The new leaves which appear they are very bright green but soon become a dull green colour.
3) There are brown patches which are common to see on the leaves due to the caterpillars.
4) In fact many insects and fungi attack this tree.
Flowers of the Pongam Tree –
1) The stems of pale purple or white flowers appear soon
after the new leaves around February, March and April.
2) In some places the flowering season is very irregular
as some trees bears flowers in summer or autumn, or even twice in year.
Fruit of the Pongam Tree –
1) The wood-like seed cases are fairly small and a patchy
dull yellow or dark brown colour when ripe.
2) They ripen just before the new leaves appear, but
remain holding the seeds until the seed-case decays.
3) The seed is red in colour as in the fruit of CoralWood Tree.
4) Whenever the seed cases fall down the tree is grown at
that place also.
Uses of the Pongam Tree –
1) The wood is sometimes used to make cartwheels and
other implements.
2) The branches when cut are fed to the cattle or ploughed
into the soil to make that soil enrich.
3) The seeds are used to make the oil which is used to
treat the skin diseases, for burning lamp and making soap.
4) The oil has an strong and unpleasant smell which is
not easily removed.
