Soap Berry Tree
Bt.name. - Sapindus saponaria Family - Sapindaceae
Soap Berry Tree
In India the Soap Berry Tree is commonly known in Marathi as Reetha.
Soap Berry Tree is native to warm temperate to tropical climatic conditions, soap berries are also known as soap nuts. This is from Sapindus genus which includes species of shrubs, and also some small trees from this we can say that the soap berry tree is a type of small tree. Soap Berry Tree is a deciduous tree which sheds their leaves at particular time to save water.
Leaves are long about 15-40cm they are pinnate and contains 14-30 leaflets.
Flowers are form in large panicles, each flower is small and creamy white in colour.
The fruit is small leathery skinned, it has diameter of 1-2 cm. The fruit become yellowish - blackish when it ripens, each fruit contains one to three seeds.
The drupe contains saponins which having surfactant properties, and have been used by peoples of ancient Asia for washing their cloths as well as hands.
