Travel Tips
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Millettia pinnata, also known as Indian beech or Pongam oil tree, is a tree from the pea family (Fabaceae). It is found in eastern and tropical Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It was earlier known as Pongamia pinnata but is now classified under the Millettia genus.
Description:
1.Size: This tree grows about 15-25 meters tall (50-80 feet) and has a wide canopy.
2.Trunk & Bark: The trunk is straight or slightly bent, and about 50-80 cm wide. The bark is grey-brown and can be smooth or have vertical cracks.
3.Branches: Smooth and have small scar marks where leaves were attached.Leaves: The leaves grow in pairs and are not toothed. Young leaves are soft and burgundy in color. As they mature, they become dark green and shiny with clear veins.
4.Flowers: Flowering generally starts after 3-4 years with small clusters of white, purple, and pink flowers blossoming throughout the year. The raceme-like inflorescence bear two to four flowers which are strongly fragrant and grow to be 15-18 millimetres (0.59-0.71 in) long. The calyx of the flowers is bell-shaped and truncate, while the corolla is a rounded ovate shape with basal auricles and often with a central blotch of green color.
Medicinal and Other Uses
1.Toxicity: The oil and residue can cause vomiting if eaten raw, but parts like fruits, sprouts, and seeds are used in traditional medicine.
2.Antiseptic: The oil and plant juices help fight germs and insects.
3.Oil Content: The seeds contain 25-40% oil, rich in oleic acid. This oil, called pongamia oil, is used in: Making soap , As lamp oil , As a lubricant
4.The oil has a strong, bitter smell and taste because of certain compounds like karanjin and pongamol.
Research has also been put into using the material left over from the oil extraction as a feed supplement for cattle, sheep and poultry as this byproduct contains up to 30% protein. Other studies have shown some potential for biocidal activity against V, cholerae and E. coli, as well an anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive (reduction in sensitivity to painful stimuli) and antipyretic (reduction in fever) properties. There is also research indicating that M. pinnata can be used as a natural insecticide.
Environmental & Economic Benefits:
1.The tree can grow in deep water (up to 6 meters) and still stay green, making it great for planting near water bodies.
2.Pongamia oil is being used to make biodiesel, especially in India and developing countries.
3.Some villages in India have started using pongamia oil in diesel generators to get electricity for water pumps and lights.
4.After oil is extracted from seeds, the leftover material (called press cake) is used as:
5.Fertilizer
6.Animal feed (for cows, sheep, and poultry) because it has up to 30% protein.