Karanja (Pongam)
Karanja (Pongam) – (classical name: Pongamia Pinnata (L.) Pierre Fabaceae) is an Ayurvedic medicinal plant native to India. This tree of medium height bears karanji-shaped fruits so it got its name Karanja (Pongam). The oil extracted from these fruits is used as a medicine in Ayurveda. It is called ‘karanji oil’.
Must Read – Poppy
Classical classification
Genus: Milesia
Caste: M. Pinata
Class: Eudicots
Family: Fabaceae
Classical name
Milesia Pinata
Names:-
Marathi: Karanj
Sanskrit – karanja; Goura; Chirbilwak; cash; Puthika; Prakirya; Greaseproof paper
English : Pongam; Indian Beach
Latin : Pongamia pinnata
Gujarati : Kanzi; Kanji
Hindi : Karanj; cannabis; Kirmal; Popper
Kannada : Huligili; will be
Karanja (Pongam) is an evergreen tree found all over India. Its botanical name is ‘Pongamia pinnata’. It grows in all types of climates. It grows well in black clay or purple soil. It is a native of the Western Ghats and has reached Burma, Southeast Asia, Australia, America.
Karanj usually grows to a height of 15 to 20 meters, but in some places it has grown to a height of 30 meters. The trunk is somewhat wide. The bark of the trunk is soft, smooth or bumpy and greenish-gray in color. The foliage of the tree is spreading. Leaves are alternate, compound and opposite. The leaves, 6 inches to 12 inches long, have five, seven, or nine oblong, pointed leaflets. They are highly wrinkled, soft, smooth, shiny, parrot-green, and of a brilliant color, hence the name ‘Snigdhapatra’ of this tree is justified due to its lustrous foliage.
The tree blooms from April to June. Aphids emerge from the grooves of the leaf and stem. It produces very short stalked, brown buds. The buds turn into pale pink, purple flowers. These flower buds have a faint smell. In some places, these flowers are greenish white or milky white in color. The flower has five petals, four of which are pink in color while the fifth petal is streaked with green. The flowers drop before they fade.
Read also – Herbal tea / Lemon grass
When the flowers fade, they are followed by yellowish, firm, flattened funnel-shaped pods. The oil is extracted from the seeds. It is famous as ‘Karanjatel’. This oil is antiseptic. It contains the substances ‘Karanjin’ and ‘Pongemol’. In ancient times it was used to heal various skin diseases, snake bites, worms and infected wounds. Leaves are used in rheumatism. Its powder is used as a disinfectant in many places. It is used for burning in lamps. It is also used to make soap and as a lubricant. Leaves are used as green manure.Karanja (Pongam) is a roadside tree.
Although native to India, the karanj tree has such an acetuhimachal habitat that it thrives in humid climates mainly along the banks of rivers and in coastal forests of the Western Ghats. Of course, it grows well in water or saline soil as well as in forests above 4,000,000 feet above sea level. All over India, this Deredar tree is planted along roadsides for shade. This tree is useful for cultivation in grasslands as the grass grows well under the shade of this tree. From India, this tree is found in South East Asia and coastal regions of Australia. Karanj is a medium-sized, medium-sized tree with spreading leaves. Its height is around 50-55 feet or more. The girth of the bud is 2 to 3 feet. Its compound leaves have five-seven oval leaflets. The flowers that bloom in the axils of the leaves are similar to Ivy but larger, fragrant, with a variety of colors from white to pink, purple. Its fruits are pods, flat cone-shaped or papaya-like, hard, yellowish in color when ripe. When the entire tree is defoliated, the pods hang from all the branches. Each pod contains only one seed, rarely two. These seeds are reddish-brown in color, bitter in taste and oily. For afforestation, the tree usually bears fruit in 4-6 years. Harvesting of fruits is generally done from November-December to May-June. The pods are peeled by hand and the seeds are separated yielding approximately 9 to 90 kg of seeds per plant. Approximately 75% of the acquisition of subsoil occurs in Karnataka alone. Only 10% of the total seed production in India is acquired. The white markings on the green leaves of the tree are caused by nematodes, microscopic organisms. Karanja seeds are useful for their oil. It is used in various industries and medicine. Karanja seeds contain indigestible substances and their toxic effect is seen in animals if seed powder or meal is given in food. Castor oil is used for tanning hides, lubricants and making candles. Medicinal uses of this oil have been elaborated in Ayurveda. Karanj oil is yellowish in color and becomes darker in color after long storage. The oil has a pungent odor and is bitter.
Like to read – Neem
This tree has got the name ‘Karam Janayati Iti Karanj’ according to the widespread use of exaggerated ornamentation found in Ayurveda. It is believed that the application of this oil regenerates the fingers of the hand infected with plague. Due to the high nitrogen content of Karanja plant, which remains after oil extraction, it is often used as a fertilizer. Along with nitrogen, the fertilizers of this meal also provide phosphorus and palash to the agriculture, besides its toxic substances also protect the crops from soil insects and fungal diseases.
Source – Wikipediya
Read more –
